Redesigning Project SEARCH’s CPR + AED Learning Kit for People with Learning Disabiities
Time Frame: January - May 2021
Education
Product Development
Overview
Angie Jackson, a Project SEARCH trainer, created a CPR + AED game kit for employees with learning disabilities to help them pass the national CPR + AED certification. The kit includes educational resources, a storybook, AED manikin, and a game board. Angie's gamified approach improved skill acquisition among trainees, leading her to consider making the game accessible to a wider audience. Building on the original kit and our research, the team developed a CPR + AED game kit that is easy to comprehend and enjoyable for teaching learners with IDD, while also ensuring its scalability to reach a broader audience.
"I like to learn with other people, it’s kind of challenging to learn by myself. If there are others, I am more comfortable and learn it easier." - Person with learning disability
My Role: Industrial Design Co-op Prototype creation User testing guide
Skills: Interviews & observations Thematic analysis Prototyping User testing
My Team: UX Team Lead 2 Industrial Design Co-ops
Problem Statement
How Can We Develop a Kit that Can Help Trainers & Employees with Learning Disabilities Learn CPR + AED?
GOALS
Develop CPR + AED training kit that decrease anxiety in students with disabilities who need CPR certification to obtain employment
Create a scalable kit that can be disseminated to a broader audience, ensuring accessibility and impact.
OUTCOME
Created a CPR + AED kit that is easily understandable for both trainers and learners, helping individuals with IDD effectively learn CPR and AED skills.
The game is produced and distributed by Attainment Company, maintaining the same design principles.
Research Process
The kit was designed to reach users in phases, allowing for testing at each stage. By employing an iterative agile methodology, we effectively transitioned the product from concept to completion, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with user needs.
Phase 1: Current Kit Analysis
What Makes a CPR + AED Kit?
Analyzing the current CPR + AED Kit that Angie uses to teach people with learning disabilities (PLD).
CCHMC’s Project SEARCH prepares PLDs to take the traditional CPR certification. Angie Jackson started a class that utilizes a kit to help individuals understand CPR.
Phase 1: Secondary Research
Competitive Analysis
The team built on Angie’s suggestions by seeking illustrations that closely resemble real life. We analyzed various types of graphics, and created mood boards for testing.
We observed both AHA CPR training videos and Project SEARCH’s CPR classes. Through this, we identified the key components essential for effectively teaching CPR and AED.
Phase 1: Primary Research
What Makes a Successful CPR + AED Education?
We collected insights through CPR class observations and interviews with Project SEARCH stakeholders to understand the current structure of the classes and how CPR and AED are taught.
We observed both AHA CPR training videos and Project SEARCH’s CPR classes. Through this, we identified the key components essential for effectively teaching CPR and AED.
The team conducted 9 interviews (1 parent, 4 Project SEARCH learners, 1 special needs interventionist, and 3 CPR instructors). We synthesized findings by noting pain points, quotes, successes, and areas for improvement.
We wanted to learn more about the broader audience. So we created a survey and received 40 responses.
We distributed a convenience-based survey through Project SEARCH and social media, targeting CPR and AED trainers, learners, parents, and college students in Cincinnati. The feedback highlighted the stressful aspects of learning CPR, which we incorporated into our design requirements.
Based on gathered insights, we mapped each stakeholder's unique and shared needs as a guide for our design decisions.
This mapping ensures that we can develop a kit that effectively meets stakeholder needs, enhancing engagement and usability. It serves as a foundation for defining design requirements for our kit.
Phase 2: Ideation
Brainstorming and Prototyping
Based on the insights gathered during the research phase, the team generated various ideas incorporating four essential components: learning content, game board, manikin, and sequence activity.
Phase 2: User Testing
What Features Best Meet User Needs?
We tested 3 prototypes with 1 special needs interventionist and 3 Project SEARCH CPR instructors before testing with persons with learning disabilities (PLD).
After the team created 3 different concept suites, all of them were tested by the educators at Project SEARCH and persons with learning disability. We gathered that each of the concepts has elements that work better than the other.
Key Takeaways
Clear step-by-step sequence
Utilize clear visualizations with brief explanations
Incorporate scenarios for better understanding
The bigger the size of touchpoints, the better
From all the feedback gathered, the team created a mash-up of all three concepts and tested these cocepts with 4 persons with learning disabilities (PLD).
From the four concept suites, the team developed a combined prototype to test with individuals who have learning disabilities (PLDs). Each person has unique needs related to learning capabilities, dexterity, and levels of independence. This approach allowed us to gather insights across a broad range of user experiences.
Design Changes
Larger touch points to improve dexterity
Enhanced contrast and text size to accommodate players with visual impairments
Simplified visual design to make game components more intuitive and easier to understand
Phase 3: Prototype to Produce
Refined Prototype Based on User Feedback
From the feedback, we created a high-fidelity prototype to hand off to Project SEARCH for testing and implementation.
We spent around three weeks perfecting the kit's prototype before settling on the final design. We made the text larger, boosted the contrast, and simplified the map to improve overall usability.
Phase 3: Final Design
3 Steps of Learning CPR + AED: Learn, Practice, Play
Where is it Now?
Project SEARCH teamed up with the Attainment Company to fine-tune the prototype, making it ready for production and nationwide distribution.
The Attainment Company updated the graphics to include more realistic illustrations and refined the kit to enhance production suitability. However, it still stays true to our research findings and the core design of the original kit.
Reflection
Project Learnings
This was my first time designing for people with learning disabilities, and it showed me that designing for PLDs is fundamentally about practicing good design principles!
Importance of Collaboration with Experts and Users: By combining expert knowledge and user insights, the team is able to create a game kit that is both credible and user-friendly, enhancing its impact on CPR and AED training. Always Incorporate Accessibility and Inclusivity: Ensure that each devision made intended for a wide range of users. Consider different learning styles, languages, and possible physical limitations.
Have a Strategy in Place: Break the project into smaller chunks and test each iteration with users. Analyze their feedback, observe how they interact with the product, and identify areas of improvement. Implement changes based on the insights gained.
Gamification Elements to Grab Attention: Gamification elements make the learning experience enjoyable and help users retain information easily. This could include points, rewards, badges, or even a scoring system to track progress and encourage users to keep practicing.
