STEAM Lab Youth Entrepreneurship Program
Evaluate the value and viability of an existing youth entrepreneurship program and it’s newly launched online curriculum platform.
Define specific users and uncover their insights about the value of the program and platform.
User interviews, usability tests, online survey, synthesis, and group feedback.
Henry Ford Learning Institute
Sessions
1 Where are we starting from?
HFLI ran the STEAM Lab Youth Entrepreneurship Program for three years, but struggled to recruit students and maintain resources to run the program. But, we also received positive feedback from students, partners, mentors, parents, and even observers. We knew we had something special, but we needed to make a change.
HFLI pivoted to train-the-trainer workshops and a new online curriculum platform, aimed at empowering others to run their own program.
We needed to connect with our new users, who were no longer youth participants, but teachers and youth development leaders.
A surprise welcome from students on a STEAM Lab pitch day!
One of the resulting ser persona cards
2 WHAT DO WE WANT TO LEARN?
Who are our users and what do they need?
What value does the program and platform bring to our users?
What barriers exist in using the online curriculum to run a STEAM Lab? What usability issues exist?
3 How Will We Learn
Send a survey to people who accessed the online curriculum at least once.
Conduct in-person interviews and usability tests with diverse users (e.g. teachers, nonprofit leaders, school administrators).
Synthesize findings, present, and gather feedback from HFLI staff + leadership.
The STEAM Lab online platform
So, What Did We Learn 4
previous Program value is more than “business”
An entrepreneurship program that focuses on developing innovative ideas based on real needs, as opposed to product profit.
The program empowers youth and builds future work skills.
The online platform is accessible and offers pre-made lessons with a frame of social impact.
Program name needs to change
The name “STEAM Lab” does not represent the program’s major value and differentiator: teaching design thinking as an approach to develop innovative ideas.
HFLI team suggests a name change to Youth Entrepreneurship x Design.
We have three primary users
Three primary users are classroom teachers, youth development leaders, and school administrators.
Users are busy, dedicated professionals working in under-resourced environments.
Users want to infuse entrepreneurship and design into their work at schools, organizations, programs, or classrooms.
Users experienced a variety of barriers
Not knowing the capacity needed to implement and if they have it.
Little planning time and team support.
Uncertainty of how program should look/feel and if user is “doing it right.”
Lack of financial resources to purchase trainings or online curriculum.
Usability needs to be improved
Navigation was a universal issue.
Users wanted simpler and more inspiring explanations of the program before exploring lessons.
Videos were suggested to show program content, rather than tell.
Each user explored different lessons, reflecting personal relevance of content.