Open AI learning community platform
A learning community platform for adult learners to study AI, combining personalized learning pathways with collaborative knowledge sharing and user-centered instructional design.
Target User
Adult Learner
Year
2025
My Role
End-to-End Designer (Instructional + Learning Experience)
Intro & Background Research
Adult learning does not rely solely on course content but is strongly influenced by the learning environment and community support. According to Wenger’s (1998) Communities of Practice (CoP) theory, learning is a process of gradually participating in a community, sharing practices, and building identity. In this project, this means the platform should not only provide courses but also foster interaction through learning groups and discussion forums, enabling learners to grow from “observers” into “contributors.”
Meanwhile, Attwell’s (2007) Personal Learning Environment/Network (PLE/PLN) theory emphasizes that adult learners need to construct personalized learning pathways and networks. The platform should therefore allow users to bookmark resources, customize their learning paths, and build learning partnerships, helping them balance self-directed exploration with community engagement.
Guided by the ADDIE model, this project focuses on creating an open AI learning community platform that offers personalized learning experiences while fostering a strong sense of community belonging and knowledge sharing.
Problems / Challenges
In today’s fast-evolving workplace, adult learners (such as freelancers and employees) are facing a growing demand for AI skills. They hope to improve their competitiveness—or even switch careers—by learning AI tools and applications. However, in reality they face several challenges:
Scattered learning resources: Most existing content comes from YouTube, podcasts, or fragmented online courses, lacking structure and systemization.
Unclear learning paths: Adult learners struggle to find growth routes that match their needs. The fragmented content makes it difficult to stay consistent.
Lack of social support: Current platforms are more one-directional in teaching. Learners feel isolated, without peer interaction or a supportive community.
Difficulty in measuring progress: Learners have no clear sense of their level or progress, making it hard to stay motivated and maintain a sense of achievement.
Differentiation from Existing Platforms
1. Traditional MOOCs (e.g., Coursera, Udemy): Emphasize course systems but lack real community interaction, leading many learners to drop out.
2. Social media-based learning resources (e.g., YouTube, Reddit): Offer abundant but scattered content, with no structured learning path or progress tracking.
3. Corporate training platforms (e.g., LinkedIn Learning): Provide professional content but lean toward one-way learning, with little peer interaction or collaborative practice.
This project aims to combine structured courses with a strong learning community atmosphere, creating an adult AI learning platform that not only provides personalized learning paths but also fosters collaboration and a sense of belonging—filling the gap left by existing solutions.
My Role
-
Instructional Designer
I applied the ADDIE model in a systematic manner to design and refine the learning path and course structure, ensuring that the content was not only pedagogically sound but also tailored to the diverse needs of adult learners.
-
User Experience Designer
I integrated adult learning theories with community-driven design principles, shaping both the curriculum and the digital platform to create an engaging, collaborative, and learner-centered experience.
-
Personal Project
I independently carried out the entire end-to-end design process—including user research, information architecture, prototyping, and interaction design—demonstrating my ability to manage a full workflow and deliver a cohesive learning solution from concept to execution.
Analysis:
To better understand the target audience, I created two personas representing typical adult learners who are seeking to enhance their AI skills: Emma Johnson, a freelance content creator, and David Wang, a mid-career marketing specialist planning a career transition. Both personas highlight the challenges and motivations that informed the design.
User Research & Needs Annlysis
Persona 1: Emma Johnson
Persona 2: David Wang
Emma and David’s Needs Analysis Summary
1. Flexible microlearning for busy or irregular schedules.
2. Structured pathways that adapt to different goals (efficiency vs. career change).
3. Community support through peer discussion, sharing, and collaboration.
4. Progress visibility via dashboards, feedback, and applied learning tasks.
Design:
To better understand the target audience, I created two personas representing typical adult learners who are seeking to enhance their AI skills: Emma Johnson, a freelance content creator, and David Wang, a mid-career marketing specialist planning a career transition. Both personas highlight the challenges and motivations that informed the design.
Learning Pathway, Information Architecture & Course Design
Make it stand out.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Make it stand out.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
