I completed the "UX Fundamentals" course from Gymnasium, which has provided me with valuable skills in understanding and designing for user needs. I leveraged my experience in this field to ensure that the projects I worked on were intuitive and user-friendly. My background in special education informed my approach to user research and design, emphasizing the importance of creating accessible and engaging experiences tailored to the needs of diverse users.

One of the key projects I completed during the course was a restaurant app prototype aimed at vacationers seeking upscale seafood restaurants nearby. This project required me to conduct user research, develop user personas, and create a prototype that addressed specific user needs and behaviors. Although the project wasn’t directly tied to education, the skills I gained in understanding the user and designing effective solutions are highly transferable to instructional design—a field I’m increasingly interested in. My special education experience helped me focus on creating a product that was not only functional but also easy to navigate, much like how I strive to make learning accessible in my teaching.

This course has significantly enhanced my ability to create user-centered designs, which is crucial in both educational technology and instructional design. By applying UX principles, I have gained a deeper understanding of how to create intuitive and effective prototypes that meet the needs of users. This experience has further fueled my interest in pursuing a career in instructional design, where I can apply these skills to develop innovative and engaging learning experiences for a diverse range of learners.