Retaining Success

This conceptual project focuses on enhancing administrator empathy and understanding to improve educator retention by simulating real-world scenarios such as student behavior issues, parent complaints, and teacher burnout. Through these simulations, administrators practice and develop skills essential for fostering a supportive and empathetic school environment.

  • Audience: Current and future elementary school principals and administrators

  • Responsibilities: Instructional Design, eLearning Development, Graphic Design, Animation

  • Tools Used: Articulate Storyline 360, Figma, Freepik, Gemini, MindMeister

The Problem

The client is the superintendent of Sheffield Manor Public Schools, seeking to address a critical issue of low perceived administrative support among elementary school teachers. They approached me due to a district-wide survey revealing widespread feelings of being unsupported, specifically citing a lack of administrative empathy and ineffective responses to student behavioral issues. The need was confirmed by the survey data, which highlighted teachers' frustrations with administrators' handling of stress, complaints, and disruptive student behavior, ultimately impacting teacher retention and classroom management.

The Solution

The proposed solution is an eLearning module designed to bridge the skill gap in empathy, understanding, and communication among school administrators. This solution was chosen to provide flexible, accessible training that allows administrators to practice responding to realistic teacher scenarios, fostering a deeper understanding of educator perspectives and effective support strategies. An eLearning format accommodates varying administrator schedules, and directly addresses the identified performance problem of inconsistent application of existing protocols through interactive, scenario-based learning.

My Process

To bring this project to life, I employed a systematic approach following the ADDIE model, beginning with collaborative action mapping to pinpoint critical behaviors, and progressing through detailed storyboarding, visual design, interactive prototyping, and final development. This iterative process ensured a focused, engaging, and effective learning experience aimed at driving tangible behavior change in school administrators.

Action Map

I collaborated closely with subject matter experts to create an action map, shifting the focus from theoretical knowledge to practical, observable behaviors. My overall business goal is for school administrators to retain at least 75% of their educators at the end of the ten-month school year. Through this process, I identified high-priority actions administrators need to take in real-world scenarios to support this goal. By focusing on behavior change, I ensured the learning experience would directly translate to improved performance.

Text Based Storyboard

Creating a text-based storyboard served as my project's blueprint, immersing learners in realistic scenarios through compelling narratives. Each decision point allowed me to include consequences, illustrating the long-term impact of different actions. I integrated a mentor character to provide on-demand guidance and information, supporting learners throughout the experience. By integrating common educator concerns outlined in my action map, I was able to create realistic scenarios that authentically portrayed the perspectives of educators in their interactions with administrators.

Visual Mockups

My visual design process began with a mood board for inspiration, followed by a style guide to ensure consistency. In addition, I utilized online color scheme coordinators to ensure the project blended well and was visually appealing. Mockups were developed to solidify the layout and visual elements for each slide, creating a cohesive and engaging aesthetic. I prioritized user experience by ensuring clear navigation through my incorporated elements. For example, I used clear buttons and menus, a satisfaction meter to gauge their emotional state, and subtle visual cues like flashing boxes to guide learners through the course.

Interactive Prototype

My interactive prototype was developed using Articulate Storyline 360 to gather feedback on functionality and user experience. The prototype included several interactive slides and the first scenario-based question, allowing stakeholders to experience the learning flow and provide valuable input. Based on the feedback received, I refined the visual elements of the project. This included ensuring consistent spacing, using high-quality images, and incorporating visually appealing animations to enhance the storytelling.

Full Development

My final eLearning module was developed incorporating feedback received from the prototype. To enhance engagement and support learning outcomes, unique features were integrated. Specifically, animations were used to engage users with on-screen graphics. I prioritized personalized feedback to ensure the project was relatable to all coworkers and to effectively interpret their opinions in the graphic designs. Furthermore, a satisfaction meter was included to focus on learner empathy with the characters' emotions, thereby increasing the story's relatability and realism. I designed the final product with accessibility and user-friendliness in mind, guaranteeing that administrators could easily navigate and apply the learned skills.

Results and Takeaways

My project aimed to improve administrative empathy and communication, leading to increased teacher retention and a more supportive school environment. This eLearning module would likely result in enhanced administrative skills, increased teacher satisfaction, improved student outcomes, and higher teacher retention rates.

My overall project was well-received by colleagues, demonstrating its potential effectiveness. The feedback I received highlighted ease of use, realism and relevance, effective learning tools, visual appeal, and impactful perspectives.

If this were a real-world project, the next steps would involve pilot testing through implementing the module with a small group of administrators to gather data on its effectiveness. Collecting further data by measuring teacher satisfaction, retention rates, and administrative performance before and after implementation. If successful, expanding the project to other school systems that are experiencing similar challenges.

Testimonials

“This professional development on empathy was easily accessible. The interactive elements, such as the satisfaction meter and mentor button, were engaging and helpful. The realistic email simulations provided a relatable experience. The clean, straightforward visuals further enhanced the learning process.”
"I found the exploration of varying response approaches incredibly insightful. The training resonated deeply, capturing the real-life experiences of teachers. The navigation was intuitive, and the three presented perspectives were realistic to what educators experience on a day to day basis."
“The story-based format of this training was a refreshing and effective way to gain insight into the challenges educators face. Unlike other online trainings, this one truly held my attention. The interactive elements enhanced the learning experience, and the instant feedback provided by the slider was very useful. This training offered a unique and impactful look into the world of education.”