UCLA staff, UCLA Extension faculty, and alumni showcased their collaborative efforts to enhance Bruin Learn, UCLA’s learning management system, at the University of California User Experience (UCUX) Usability Summit on June 7, 2024.
Watch this presentation to hear summaries of:
- UCLA’s usability training program by Anna Ahearn, Lead UX Designer in UCLA IT Services
- UCLA Extension’s UX IV Capstone Course by Dr. Iris Kern-Foster, Designer & Educator in UCLA Extension
- Two Bruin Learn learning management system (LMS) case studies by Clyde Ewart and Angela Newman, UCLA Extension UX alumni
Project History
Empowering the Bruin Learn Center of Excellence Team
With hundreds of websites and applications across campus and fewer than 20 user experience (UX) professionals campus-wide, UCLA faced a significant challenge in ensuring a human-centered approach to digital systems. Recognizing this gap, Anna Ahearn and the BruinTech Human-Centered Design Subcommittee initiated a training program to extend human-centered thinking and methodologies to UX-adjacent staff, such as product managers and developers. A notable success was the Bruin Learn Center of Excellence, a team of 14 who learned and applied UX methodologies to UCLA’s learning management system, positively impacting the experience of over 40,000 students and faculty.
Showcasing Achievements
The program culminated in a systemwide UX event where participant teams presented their research and findings to an audience of 100 from 9 campuses and the Office of the President. This annual event, led by the UCUX Steering Committee (comprising Anna Ahearn, Kristin Ashton, Rachel Hollowgrass, Phyllis Treige, and Mary Watkins), promotes human-centered design practices in the UC system.
Incorporating Student Insights
Anna Ahearn collaborated with UCLA Extension UX Certificate faculty member, Dr. Iris Kern-Foster, and Bruin Learn Center of Excellence team members Ilana Intonato and Steven Williams, to create a case study documenting the participants’ research and insights. This case study was integrated into UCLA Extension’s UX capstone course syllabus for 3 weeks of student work. A newsletter was introduced to showcase these student projects to staff, fostering further innovation and improved decision-making from the Bruin Learn Center of Excellence team.
Join the UCUX Community
Resources
- Slides (UCUX Usability Summit 2024)
- Video: Ascend 2.0: the Importance of Usability and Functionality
- Article: UX Trends in Higher Ed
Author
Lead UX Designer, IT Services
UCLA