Codon Learning - Instructor Course Builder

responsibilities
User Research
User Flows
Wireframes
Prototypes
UX/UI Design
Iterative User Testing
Tools
Figma
Axure
Adobe Photoshop
role
This was a client project at Chronos Interactive. As Senior UX/UI designer, I worked closely with the design and content team a Codon Learning to complete the project.

Overview

Codon Learning set out to improve STEM education by equipping instructors with research-backed, data-driven course design tools. The first step in this vision was developing an instructor-facing platform that streamlined course planning, assignment creation, and student progress tracking. I helped design the MVP of this Course Design product. This foundational work later informed the development of Codon’s student-facing app, creating a seamless connection between how instructors structured their courses and how students engaged with the material.

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Problem

Effective course design is critical for student success, yet many STEM instructors lack intuitive tools that align with evidence-based pedagogical frameworks. Codon’s platform is built around Backward Course Design, a research-backed approach that begins with defining clear Learning Objectives and then structuring assessments and instructional activities to achieve them. Before Codon, many instructors relied on ad hoc methods—such as spreadsheets or rigid LMS structures—that made it difficult to systematically design courses around learning outcomes.

The challenge was to create an interface that:

  • Put Learning Objectives at the Core – Enabling instructors to define and organize their courses around measurable student outcomes.
  • Facilitated Data-Driven Adjustments – Giving instructors real-time insights into student performance to refine their teaching strategies.
  • Balanced Efficiency with Flexibility – The platform needed to be efficient for time-strapped instructors, allowing them to set up courses quickly, while still providing autonomy and customization in their course-building process.

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Solution

Working closely with Codon’s team, I led the UX design for the instructor-facing MVP. I conducted user research, wireframed and prototyped features/screens, and participated in usability testing with instructors to validate workflows. Key aspects of the solution included:

  • Efficiency-Focused UX– A streamlined interface allowing instructors to set up courses, organize content, and create assignments with ease while still offering customization for those who wanted more control.
  • Learning Objective-Driven Design – A workflow that ensures every assignment and assessment aligns with instructor-defined learning objectives.
  • Data-Driven Insights – Integration of analytics to help instructors track student progress, identify struggling learners, and make data-informed adjustments.
  • Seamless Student Integration – Ensuring that course setup on the instructor side translated directly into an intuitive student experience within the Codon Student app.