I designed a data science program for African managers
As a Learning Designer at the ALU School of Business (ALUSB), I co-designed and managed the Leadership Lab, a core course in the pan-African MBA program. Collaborating closely with the Chief Learning Officer, I developed content, built the course on the LMS, and fostered an engaging online learning community for 150+ students across three cohorts.
Client
ALX (part of the African Leadership Group)
Year
Oct 2019 - Aug 2019
Category
Learning Design
The problem context
As a Learning Experience Designer at the African Leadership Group, I co-designed and launched the Data Science Xcelerator (DSXL), a 4-month hybrid program for mid-level managers in African countries.
Through iterative design, piloting, and collaboration with subject matter experts, we created an engaging and relevant learning experience that drove high attendance, satisfaction, and achievement of learning outcomes.
Here's how we did it...
01
Collaborative Design
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I worked in a small squad with a Product Manager, Data Science expert, and adjunct facilitators, supported by a broader product team. After conducting market research and user interviews, we developed learning outcomes and organized them into four modules: Self Leadership, People Leadership, System Leadership, and Commercial & Strategic Leadership.
02
Iterative Development
Collaborating with subject matter experts, I built engaging content, including case studies, simulations, games, and challenges. We sought feedback from internal and external stakeholders to refine the designs.
03
Piloting & Feedback
We conducted internal and external pilots to test the learning experience and gather feedback through observations, interviews, and surveys. This allowed us to iterate on the design before launching the program to the actual cohort, resulting in higher Net Promoter Scores and satisfaction ratings.
Outcomes
Here are some of the outcomes​
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Successful Launch: We launched DSXL to 30 managers in Johannesburg, running three in-person sessions before pivoting to a fully digital experience due to COVID-19.
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Improved Metrics: Piloting helped improve our NPS and satisfaction ratings, with high attendance (76% average), content relevance (4.6/5), and achievement of learning outcomes (4.3/5).
Key Learnings
Here's what we learned​
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Designing with limited subject matter expertise: I rapidly learned data science basics and collaborated effectively with subject matter experts to create an accessible yet rigorous program.
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Piloting and iteration (in a distributed team): Running pilots with a distributed team across different countries provided valuable practice for remote collaboration and iterative design.
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Developing learning outcomes and frameworks: Designing a program from scratch allowed me to conduct research, identify gaps, develop learning outcomes, and create frameworks and case studies to enrich the learning experience.
Thriving Fig combines deep user insights with a clear understanding of the business case, and produces end-to-end experiences that are magical and transformational while blending digital and analogue experiences seamlessly.
Seth Trudeau
Managing Partner, Routine Chaos
(former VP of Product at African Leadership Group)