UX • AcademyOnline - Department of Education Victoria

Curio partnered with the Department of Education Victoria to review AcademyOnline, its core digital learning platform. Through user interviews and evidence-based UX analysis, we identified pain points in navigation, accessibility, and engagement. Our recommendations streamlined course structures, improved usability, and enhanced the learning experience for students and educators alike. By applying human-centred design principles, we delivered clear, actionable insights that positioned AcademyOnline to better support effective teaching and learner success.

Jan 27, 2025

CLIENT

Department of Education Victoria

CLIENT

Department of Education Victoria

CLIENT

Department of Education Victoria

Role

UX Researcher

Role

UX Researcher

Role

UX Researcher

Service

Platform Audit

Service

Platform Audit

Service

Platform Audit

Situation

AcademyOnline is the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership’s digital learning platform, designed to support professional development for educators across Victoria. Despite its critical role, user feedback indicated key experience challenges — including unclear navigation, limited progression tracking, and poor interaction with SCORM-based learning content.

Task

The goal was to conduct a comprehensive UX review to identify usability issues, define learner needs, and provide evidence-based recommendations to improve the platform experience.

To inform potential improvements to the AcademyOnline platform, we conducted a qualitative analysis of 8 user interviews, focusing specifically on their interaction with the digital interface.

The goal was to conduct a comprehensive UX review to identify usability issues, define learner needs, and provide evidence-based recommendations to improve the platform experience.

To inform potential improvements to the AcademyOnline platform, we conducted a qualitative analysis of 8 user interviews, focusing specifically on their interaction with the digital interface.

The goal was to conduct a comprehensive UX review to identify usability issues, define learner needs, and provide evidence-based recommendations to improve the platform experience.

To inform potential improvements to the AcademyOnline platform, we conducted a qualitative analysis of 8 user interviews, focusing specifically on their interaction with the digital interface.

Action - User interviews

Key Findings from User Interviews

Using affinity mapping, we identified recurring pain points related to navigation, content access, communication tools, and overall usability.

“way, way, way too many online platforms”
Because of that, there’s no strong incentive or "pull" to invest time in learning any single one well, including AcademyOnline. He also mentioned that unless there was a specific reason to engage with it (e.g., current course enrolment), he wouldn’t return to the platform. This ties into a broader theme of platform fatigue and disengagement due to fragmented digital ecosystems.

“I found it a bit… rabbit-holey…”
This comment reflects disorientation and navigation fatigue. Joshua is describing the AcademyOnline platform as one where it's easy to get lost within layers of content, without a clear path to return to the previous step.

“It's a smaller window on your already small screen"
This quote reflects interface design limitations that constrain the user's ability to efficiently read or interact with content. Kirsten is describing a UI pattern where important learning materials are embedded within narrow scrolling frames — a situation sometimes referred to in UX as a "scroll trap.”

From these interviews, we developed affinity maps to align on the key issues users were facing.

Key Findings from User Interviews

Using affinity mapping, we identified recurring pain points related to navigation, content access, communication tools, and overall usability.

“way, way, way too many online platforms”
Because of that, there’s no strong incentive or "pull" to invest time in learning any single one well, including AcademyOnline. He also mentioned that unless there was a specific reason to engage with it (e.g., current course enrolment), he wouldn’t return to the platform. This ties into a broader theme of platform fatigue and disengagement due to fragmented digital ecosystems.

“I found it a bit… rabbit-holey…”
This comment reflects disorientation and navigation fatigue. Joshua is describing the AcademyOnline platform as one where it's easy to get lost within layers of content, without a clear path to return to the previous step.

“It's a smaller window on your already small screen"
This quote reflects interface design limitations that constrain the user's ability to efficiently read or interact with content. Kirsten is describing a UI pattern where important learning materials are embedded within narrow scrolling frames — a situation sometimes referred to in UX as a "scroll trap.”

From these interviews, we developed affinity maps to align on the key issues users were facing.

Key Findings from User Interviews

Using affinity mapping, we identified recurring pain points related to navigation, content access, communication tools, and overall usability.

“way, way, way too many online platforms”
Because of that, there’s no strong incentive or "pull" to invest time in learning any single one well, including AcademyOnline. He also mentioned that unless there was a specific reason to engage with it (e.g., current course enrolment), he wouldn’t return to the platform. This ties into a broader theme of platform fatigue and disengagement due to fragmented digital ecosystems.

“I found it a bit… rabbit-holey…”
This comment reflects disorientation and navigation fatigue. Joshua is describing the AcademyOnline platform as one where it's easy to get lost within layers of content, without a clear path to return to the previous step.

“It's a smaller window on your already small screen"
This quote reflects interface design limitations that constrain the user's ability to efficiently read or interact with content. Kirsten is describing a UI pattern where important learning materials are embedded within narrow scrolling frames — a situation sometimes referred to in UX as a "scroll trap.”

From these interviews, we developed affinity maps to align on the key issues users were facing.

Action - Personas and Jounrey Mapping

The AcademyOnline learner base was represented through five primary personas, reflecting diverse roles, motivations, engagement patterns and a map of their journe on the platform:

Rebecca Martin – Learning and Development Facilitator
Digitally confident and structured; integrates online prep with printed materials.
Needs: Predictable structure, clear download access, efficient facilitation workflow.
Pain Points: Slow downloads, clunky journal navigation.
Daniela Rossi – Regional Program Manager
Highly organised and digitally fluent; values consistent design across courses.
Needs: Reliable offline access and visual consistency.
Pain Points: Poor mobile usability, inconsistent resource layouts.
Amir Salim – Assistant Principal
Pragmatic, time-poor leader who uses the platform only when necessary.
Needs: Clear prompts, reminders, and simplified navigation.
Pain Points: No in-platform notifications, limited peer collaboration tools.
Joshua Tran – Instructional Leader in Transition
Reflective and tech-savvy but critical of design inefficiencies.
Needs: Intuitive navigation, audio/video learning modes, cohesive cross-system experience.
Pain Points: “Rabbit-hole” navigation, lack of contextual support.
Laurel Wen – School Leadership Team Member
Experienced but frustrated by fragmented course design.
Needs: Cohesive links between online, workshop, and project tasks.
Pain Points: Disconnected toolkit interfaces, poor communication tools.

Persona Insights Summary

The personas reveal a spectrum of digital confidence and motivation, yet common themes emerged:

Structure and consistency drive satisfaction and efficiency.
Disjointed navigation and limited support reduce engagement and trust.
Facilitator guidance often compensates for UX gaps.
Mobile usability remains a key accessibility barrier.

These insights grounded the UX recommendations—ensuring that the proposed bookmarking, search, and journal features respond directly to real user needs observed across personas.

Journey Mapping Highlights

User journey mapping across these personas revealed:

A strong start during enrolment and preparation, but friction peaks during engagement and reflection phases.
The lack of integrated reflection and progress tools (e.g., journals, notifications) undermined continuity.
Successful journeys, like Rebecca’s and Daniela’s, were characterised by predictable structure and offline flexibility.
Struggling users, like Laurel and Joshua, illustrated the need for scaffolded navigation and cross-platform cohesion

The AcademyOnline learner base was represented through five primary personas, reflecting diverse roles, motivations, engagement patterns and a map of their journe on the platform:

Rebecca Martin – Learning and Development Facilitator
Digitally confident and structured; integrates online prep with printed materials.
Needs: Predictable structure, clear download access, efficient facilitation workflow.
Pain Points: Slow downloads, clunky journal navigation.
Daniela Rossi – Regional Program Manager
Highly organised and digitally fluent; values consistent design across courses.
Needs: Reliable offline access and visual consistency.
Pain Points: Poor mobile usability, inconsistent resource layouts.
Amir Salim – Assistant Principal
Pragmatic, time-poor leader who uses the platform only when necessary.
Needs: Clear prompts, reminders, and simplified navigation.
Pain Points: No in-platform notifications, limited peer collaboration tools.
Joshua Tran – Instructional Leader in Transition
Reflective and tech-savvy but critical of design inefficiencies.
Needs: Intuitive navigation, audio/video learning modes, cohesive cross-system experience.
Pain Points: “Rabbit-hole” navigation, lack of contextual support.
Laurel Wen – School Leadership Team Member
Experienced but frustrated by fragmented course design.
Needs: Cohesive links between online, workshop, and project tasks.
Pain Points: Disconnected toolkit interfaces, poor communication tools.

Persona Insights Summary

The personas reveal a spectrum of digital confidence and motivation, yet common themes emerged:

Structure and consistency drive satisfaction and efficiency.
Disjointed navigation and limited support reduce engagement and trust.
Facilitator guidance often compensates for UX gaps.
Mobile usability remains a key accessibility barrier.

These insights grounded the UX recommendations—ensuring that the proposed bookmarking, search, and journal features respond directly to real user needs observed across personas.

Journey Mapping Highlights

User journey mapping across these personas revealed:

A strong start during enrolment and preparation, but friction peaks during engagement and reflection phases.
The lack of integrated reflection and progress tools (e.g., journals, notifications) undermined continuity.
Successful journeys, like Rebecca’s and Daniela’s, were characterised by predictable structure and offline flexibility.
Struggling users, like Laurel and Joshua, illustrated the need for scaffolded navigation and cross-platform cohesion

The AcademyOnline learner base was represented through five primary personas, reflecting diverse roles, motivations, engagement patterns and a map of their journe on the platform:

Rebecca Martin – Learning and Development Facilitator
Digitally confident and structured; integrates online prep with printed materials.
Needs: Predictable structure, clear download access, efficient facilitation workflow.
Pain Points: Slow downloads, clunky journal navigation.
Daniela Rossi – Regional Program Manager
Highly organised and digitally fluent; values consistent design across courses.
Needs: Reliable offline access and visual consistency.
Pain Points: Poor mobile usability, inconsistent resource layouts.
Amir Salim – Assistant Principal
Pragmatic, time-poor leader who uses the platform only when necessary.
Needs: Clear prompts, reminders, and simplified navigation.
Pain Points: No in-platform notifications, limited peer collaboration tools.
Joshua Tran – Instructional Leader in Transition
Reflective and tech-savvy but critical of design inefficiencies.
Needs: Intuitive navigation, audio/video learning modes, cohesive cross-system experience.
Pain Points: “Rabbit-hole” navigation, lack of contextual support.
Laurel Wen – School Leadership Team Member
Experienced but frustrated by fragmented course design.
Needs: Cohesive links between online, workshop, and project tasks.
Pain Points: Disconnected toolkit interfaces, poor communication tools.

Persona Insights Summary

The personas reveal a spectrum of digital confidence and motivation, yet common themes emerged:

Structure and consistency drive satisfaction and efficiency.
Disjointed navigation and limited support reduce engagement and trust.
Facilitator guidance often compensates for UX gaps.
Mobile usability remains a key accessibility barrier.

These insights grounded the UX recommendations—ensuring that the proposed bookmarking, search, and journal features respond directly to real user needs observed across personas.

Journey Mapping Highlights

User journey mapping across these personas revealed:

A strong start during enrolment and preparation, but friction peaks during engagement and reflection phases.
The lack of integrated reflection and progress tools (e.g., journals, notifications) undermined continuity.
Successful journeys, like Rebecca’s and Daniela’s, were characterised by predictable structure and offline flexibility.
Struggling users, like Laurel and Joshua, illustrated the need for scaffolded navigation and cross-platform cohesion

Action - Solution

Proposed Solutions

Bookmarking Feature
What: Introduce a bookmarking tool within each Canvas course that allows learners to:

Mark any page, file, video, or reading as a “favourite”
Access all bookmarks from a dedicated sidebar or dashboard tile
Maintain bookmarks across sessions

Why it helps: Addresses learner frustrations such as:

“I had to go back and reopen everything just to find one thing — it’s frustrating.”

Search Bar
What: Embed a native search bar within all Canvas course pages to allow resource, page, and module search.
Why it helps: Gives learners greater control and flexibility, addressing a core UX heuristic — user control and freedom.

Learning Journal
What: Introduce a persistent, easily accessible reflection space within each Canvas course.
Why it helps: Responds to learner feedback about the difficulty of locating and using reflection tools, and encourages structured, in-platform reflection.

Proposed Solutions

Bookmarking Feature
What: Introduce a bookmarking tool within each Canvas course that allows learners to:

Mark any page, file, video, or reading as a “favourite”
Access all bookmarks from a dedicated sidebar or dashboard tile
Maintain bookmarks across sessions

Why it helps: Addresses learner frustrations such as:

“I had to go back and reopen everything just to find one thing — it’s frustrating.”

Proposed Solutions

Bookmarking Feature
What: Introduce a bookmarking tool within each Canvas course that allows learners to:

Mark any page, file, video, or reading as a “favourite”
Access all bookmarks from a dedicated sidebar or dashboard tile
Maintain bookmarks across sessions

Why it helps: Addresses learner frustrations such as:

“I had to go back and reopen everything just to find one thing — it’s frustrating.”

Reflection

This project exemplified the value of rigorous user research and strategic synthesis. By connecting qualitative data directly to design recommendations, we helped shift the platform roadmap toward learner-centred improvements.

It also reinforced the importance of visual communication tools (journey maps, personas) in aligning cross-functional teams around abstract user needs.

At the time of writing, we at Curio are in the process of being engaged to further design and roll out the recommendations.

It also reinforced the importance of visual communication tools (journey maps, personas) in aligning cross-functional teams around abstract user needs.

At the time of writing, we at Curio are in the process of being engaged to further design and roll out the recommendations.

It also reinforced the importance of visual communication tools (journey maps, personas) in aligning cross-functional teams around abstract user needs.

At the time of writing, we at Curio are in the process of being engaged to further design and roll out the recommendations.

UI/UX • RMIT

Designed and delivered RMIT’s content repository, enabling teachers to easily search, preview, and reuse digital learning assets in Canvas, reducing preparation time and improving consistency across online courses.