Yvette Wang (left) and **Monica Chen** (right) are both METALS (Masters of Educational Technology and Applied Learning Sciences) students at CMU. Read below about their experiences with the METALS Capstone Project and how they design for education!

✏️ Can you provide us with a brief description of your METALS Capstone Project?

YW: Our capstone project is partnered with CMU Africa and founded by Mastercard Foundation to improve the learning experiences of CMU online certificate program which target African professionals working in EdTech companies.

MC: Our project collaborates with CMU Africa x MCF to enhance the learning experience of African EdTech Hub fellows by fostering a supportive ecosystem around CMU certificate courses. Our aim is to optimize online education experiences, ensuring that the courses are highly applicable to their personal learning objectives and entrepreneurial efforts.

✏️ What has been your favorite part of this capstone so far?

YW: My favorite part of this capstone so far is that we are solving a real problem using both learning science and UX design for a user group with which I previously haven’t interacted with. Additionally, I’m eager to observe the impact of our project on the learners.

MC: My favorite part has been the ideation and brainstorming process. It’s fascinating because it allows us to communicate and discover numerous ideas with our users. Different perspectives lead to diverse directions, and exploring unique backgrounds and concepts adds an exciting element to the process.

✏️ What is something important you’ve learned about designing for education during your capstone?

YW: I think it’s most important to get to know the learners, their cultural background, motivations and goals. A successful project should align with learner’s personal goals and activate their active learning.

MC: One important aspect I’ve learned is the significance of considering cultural norms and accessibility. Designing for diverse user groups like African EdTech Hub fellows necessitates incorporating various cultural perspectives and addressing accessibility challenges. In our context, we’ve recognized the importance of addressing language barriers, minimizing cognitive load, and ensuring physical access, such as stable internet connectivity.

<aside> ⚙️ Learn more about METALS and the METALS Capstone here!

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