At Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), we were fortunate to have a team of seasoned subject matter experts, each with extensive experience in higher education. Their deep knowledge was an invaluable asset, yet it also posed a unique challenge: their expertise was so rooted in the realities of the current educational system that envisioning a radically different future proved difficult. When tasked with creating a new Learning Management System (LMS) that would not only meet our current needs but also set a visionary course for the university’s future, we encountered resistance. The experts were accustomed to navigating the complexities, politics, and red tape of the existing system, which made it hard for them to imagine a future free from these constraints.
My Role:
As the Director of Product Design, my responsibility was to break through this resistance by helping our experts step out of their usual mindset. I needed to create an environment where they could think creatively and freely, unburdened by the limitations of the present system.
The Solution:
To achieve this, I designed an unconventional workshop aimed at unlocking their creativity. Instead of focusing on the existing system and its challenges, the workshop was intentionally playful and abstract. I used fictional scenarios, unusual terminology, and a longer-than-usual AI-generated video to immerse participants in a different way of thinking. The goal was to shift their perspective, allowing them to imagine a world where the usual obstacles didn’t exist. After a group session to establish this new mindset, participants broke into smaller teams to design a platform that would meet the needs of this idealized future.
Outcome:
The workshop was a success. It resulted in the creation of a visionary LMS that not only addressed the current needs but also paved the way for future advancements. We analyzed the technical feasibility of various features, considering whether to build or buy different components. The insights gained from this exercise also informed how we could incrementally evolve our current system, taking meaningful steps toward a more innovative and student-centered educational experience.