AoM Online

Redesigning a hands-on course for virtual learning during COVID-19

Spring 2020

The Art of Making: an Introduction to Hands-on System Design and Engineering (AoM), is a course that teaches principles of human-centered design and the skills to build and implement prototypes. After taking the class as a freshman in Spring 2016, I started serving as a Teaching Assistant to pass on the incredible knowledge I had learned to the next group of students.

In Spring 2020, with the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic, I helped redesign AoM for virtual learning with the rest of the staff. This undertaking meant using online tools to empower students to build group projects while isolated in their homes.

Ask me about my time teaching and advising, it's one of my greatest passions.

Project Details

Timeline: 1 week prep, 4 week delivery

Team Size: 10 staff members

My Role: Teaching Assistant

Skills Practiced: fast pivots, interviews, learning new online tools, virtual communication, conflict resolution

Design Process

Bias Towards Action

Rather than simply discuss what to do, we tried ideas out. Our staff immediately started researching online, interviewing students, and testing ideas.

Student Interviews: Focus on Human Values

Our first step in delivering a virtual version of a very activity based class was to talk to the students. We asked questions about how they were handling the move back home, what environments they had to work in, what they were most worried and excited about for the Art of Making in particular. These discussions with students gave us great insight into the physical and mental constraints we had to work around.

Iterative Design: Ideation and Testing

All of the Teaching Assistants on the team working to accomplish this huge move were previous students of the class. We were also current students with our own course load being pushed online. With the range of strategies being implemented across the school, we were able to bring many ideas to our classroom from what worked well in our other classes. As a small staff we would test the limits of Zoom video conferencing, try different features during class time, and adjust based on what we found to work or not work for students.

“Final Design”

The class was not meant to be online, and of course we didn’t create the perfect version of an online class in just a few weeks, but we learned a lot and the students were still able to accomplish some amazing projects. To complete the semester, the staff held an online Expo, where students virtually presented their projects to over 30 alumni and business professionals, who were then able to interact with the students in breakout rooms to discuss their projects, providing valuable feedback, priceless encouragement, and building new relationships.