Effective Learning" is an online platform for elementary school students based on neuro-educational principles. The tool assists them in enhancing their learning processes and unlocking their cognitive potential.

Overview

Santillana, a leading publisher in Spain and 18 Ibero-American countries, aims to revolutionize learning with its 'Effective Learning' project, collecting real-time student data.

Our challenge was to create a seamless experience for teachers and students.

In six months, we built a platform from scratch, including narrative, visuals, and game mechanics. The result: one of Santillana's top-tier digital products.

Strategy

Strategic Workshop
 

What were the optimal learning moments? How could we infuse enjoyment into learning? What tools were essential for teachers?

Our journey began with a strategic workshop involving key stakeholders. We created empathy maps for the participants, shaping the core principles of our game design.

Conceptualization
 

As a design team, we embarked on an educational gamification learning journey to establish our foundation.

We developed many game tactics grounded in the values extracted from the workshop. We prioritized those with the most significant motivational potential and ease of implementation: Fictional Freedom, Customization, and Friendly Competition.

Playing with game mechanics

Rewards

To balance extrinsic and intrinsic rewards, we followed the Law of Diminishing Returns.

Our goal was to shift students toward internal motivation as they advanced, fostering cognitive growth.
 

Narrative

We created three distinct universes tailored to different age groups (superheroes, explorers, and astronauts). For each story, we followed a consistent narrative pattern inspired by Campbell's Hero's Journey.
 

Key moments

In each story, we pinpointed key moments where the system paused the exercise session, prompting the student to decide: to check their progress, choose a reward, or delve into a knowledge nugget.
 

Map of the different topics involved in the game and their connections
 

Student's Universe
 

We boldly defined the visual aesthetics for nine distinct environments, including avatars, badges, and progress maps.

Within these settings, we intricately wove captivating narratives, allowing students to plunge into a fantastical realm while engaging in learning activities.

We created a powerful system combining points and badges with mastery-linked progress maps.

This revealed diverse game dynamics, highlighting each student's unique strengths.

Students could shape their path by choosing among three options upon completing their activities to propel their adventure forward.

This approach conveyed a sense of freedom as a gameplay tactic.

Teacher Experience
 

We immersed teachers in a data-rich universe to equip them with tools for making high-impact decisions, elevating their students' learning experiences with ease.
 

Teacher's Journey
 

Tthe teacher's journey revolved around four dimensions of usage: attention, frequency, purpose, and duration.

Student or Group Progress Analysis

We crafted "Learning Maps" to provide a highly visual means of quickly assessing a student's progress in specific subjects or groups.

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Real-Time Detection of Strengths and Weaknesses

We established various alert levels tailored to meet the specific information needs of teachers in different scenarios.

Customized Training Plans

Teachers can create groups based on competencies, developmental levels, or specific challenges and assign customized exercise programs to support students' progress.
 

Outcomes
 

Launching in 14 countries across Latin America and Spain, "Effective Learning" has set its sights on transforming the educational landscape for thousands of students.


In 2018, the tool received an award as the winner of the 2018 Learning Impact Awards in the category of Gaming, Simulation, and Immersive Learning.