Work
Empowering Teachers to Use AI in Their Work
Developed by Santillana, this initiative addresses the challenges educators face in adopting AI, providing tools and guidance to ease this transition
Introducing AI into the educational landscape comes with many challenges, from addressing ethical concerns to ensuring it actually benefits students. Teachers are on the front lines of this shift, frequently without the tools or guidance they need.According to a 2023 report by UNESCO, "the education sector is largely unprepared for the ethical and pedagogical integration of powerful AI technologies, which poses a significant challenge for educators worldwide."
Santillana Brasil, one of the largest educational groups in Brazil, has a long-standing reputation for providing high-quality educational materials and solutions. However, despite its prominence, Santillana had been lagging in addressing the use of AI among educators.
Recognizing this gap, we embarked on an edTech project to equip Brazilian educators with the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of AI in education. This project was initially conceived as part of a comprehensive program to train teachers to work with AI. The first stage involved creating an informative eBook and a high-converting landing page.
Note: All UI elements and content have been translated into English for this case study.
Discovery Phase
Objectives
To understand the specific needs, challenges, and preferences of Brazilian school teachers in adopting AI technologies.
Methodology
Competitive Analysis: Assessed existing educational platforms and resources to identify gaps and opportunities in the edTech space.
Stakeholder Interviews: Conducted interviews with Santillana's executives and educational advisors to gain insights.
Key Findings
Alignment with Educational Goals: Both executives and pedagogical advisors stressed the importance of aligning AI tools with educational objectives and curricula.
Training and Support: There was a unanimous agreement on the need for training programs and continuous support for teachers.
First Steps: Initial focus on creating an eBook and a high-converting landing page to start the training program, with future newsletters planned to keep teachers informed and engaged.
Competitive analysis reveals a competitor's (Edify) AI strengths, yet highlights weaknesses in authenticity and implementation guidelines. The SWOT analysis underscores opportunities for market expansion and threats related to program continuity in the evolving edTech landscape.
Definition
User Personas
Based on insights from pedagogical advisors and interviews, we developed three primary personas reflecting the technological proficiency of Brazilian educators. These personas are below.
Landing Page
After deciding that the first stage of this program would be to offer an eBook through a lead-generating landing page, we began designing these two products. I created the structure, wrote the copy, and made sure that the design aligned with the overall branding of Santillana. One of the challenges we faced was the lack of established design guidelines in the company. This led us to establish our own principles for consistency and usability, compensating for the absence of a comprehensive design system.
Wireframe & Mockup
We started with low and mid-fidelity wireframes to outline the structure and layout of the landing page.
When transitioning to the mockups, we focused on creating a cohesive layout that was both intuitive and visually engaging. To add a sense of spontaneity and approachability, we incorporated doodle-style illustrations throughout the page. The copy and UX writing were crafted to achieve clarity and engagement, making the user journey seamless and informative.
Prototype
During the prototyping phase, I created a smooth animation for the hero section (see it below). The animation features AI elements emerging from an educator's computer screen and floating in front of her, making the landing page more engaging and visually appealing.
eBook
Creation Process
The eBook Artificial Intelligence at School was the centerpiece of this project. I applied my graphic design knowledge to create a clean, clear, and highly readable layout using InDesign, making the pages both attractive and easy to navigate.
Cover and sample pages from the eBook
Illustrations
I used Midjourney and DALL·E to create illustrations for the eBook, and then made adjustments and enhancements in Photoshop to ensure consistency and high quality
The creation process at Midjourney often requires adaptation. For instance, an illustration of a boy as an astronaut aimed to show the power of AI immersion in learning. However, Midjourney struggled to apply a realistic Brazilian flag to the sleeve of the astronaut's suit, often resulting in bizarre images with an American flag instead. This required additional work in Photoshop to achieve the desired result.
Conclusion
This project marks a significant step in equipping Brazilian educators with AI tools and knowledge for their teaching practices. As a UX/UI designer, I crafted a landing page and designed an eBook, extending beyond typical UX responsibilities. The process involved creating user personas, developing wireframes, and iterating on prototypes to meet diverse educator needs.
Integrating AI-generated illustrations while maintaining consistent branding presented unique challenges, requiring adaptability and problem-solving skills. The resulting products provide accessible resources for teachers beginning their AI adoption journey, supporting Santillana's goal of addressing the AI knowledge gap in education.