Computer Science & Software Engineering
Objectives in LxD
Objective
In this sprint, you transition from student learner to student teacher. You’ll apply Learning Experience Design (LxD) principles to create effective JavaScript lessons while mastering programming fundamentals.
You are now a Learning Experience Designer — professionals who create engaging educational experiences using:
- Design Thinking methodology
- Empathy-driven lesson planning
- Iterative content development
- Peer teaching and feedback
By the end of this sprint, you should have:
- Deep understanding of JavaScript fundamentals through teaching
- Experience applying LxD and Design Thinking principles
- Portfolio of lessons you’ve designed and taught
- Ability to create and enhance educational games
Learning Experience Design for Technical Teaching
flowchart LR
Empathy[👥 Empathize<br/>Understand Learner Needs] --> Define[Define<br/>Frame Learning Problems]
Define --> Ideate[Ideate<br/>Brainstorm Lesson Solutions]
Ideate --> Prototype[Prototype<br/>Create Lesson Draft]
Prototype --> Test[Test<br/>Teach & Gather Feedback]
Test --> Empathy
subgraph "Design Thinking Cycle"
Test -.-> Empathy
Test -.-> Define
Test -.-> Ideate
Test -.-> Prototype
end
style Empathy fill:#2d4a3d
style Define fill:#1e3a5f
style Ideate fill:#1a3a4a
style Prototype fill:#2d4a3d
style Test fill:#1e3a5f
Why Learning Experience Design?
LxD professionals at education technology companies (Coursera, Khan Academy, Udemy) use these same methods to build online courses and training platforms. You’re learning professional skills while teaching programming.
Your Hidden LxD Expertise:
Every time you’ve thought “I wish my teacher had explained it this way” or “This lesson would be better if…” — that’s Learning Experience Design thinking in action.
You Already Know:
- What confuses learners → You’ve been confused and found clarity
- How instructions should flow → You’ve followed good and bad directions
- When examples help → You’ve seen effective and ineffective demos
- What makes practice effective → You’ve done assignments that taught you vs. busywork
- How feedback should work → You’ve experienced motivating and discouraging responses
As an LxD professional, you’ll apply this through:
- Empathize → Draw on your learning struggles to understand student needs
- Define → Create POV (Point of View) statements that frame learning challenges
- Ideate → Use HMW (How Might We) questions to brainstorm teaching solutions
- Prototype → Build lesson drafts, code examples, and practice activities
- Test → Teach your lessons and refine based on peer feedback
JavaScript for Gaming - The LxD Challenge
Student teams will design and deliver lessons on JavaScript fundamentals, applying LxD principles to make programming concepts engaging and accessible.
Part 1: Fundamentals of Programming (LxD Focus: Clarity)
Design lessons that make abstract concepts concrete through examples and practice.
- Data Types
- Variables, Booleans, Strings, Arrays, JSON
- LxD Challenge: Create memorable examples that stick
- Operations and Control Flow
- Mathematical Expressions, Logical Operators
- Conditionals, Nested Conditionals, Iteration
- LxD Challenge: Build progressive practice that scaffolds complexity
Part 2: Concepts for Gaming (LxD Focus: Application)
Design lessons that show immediate practical application through game development.
- Input and Output
- HTML input, Document Object Model (DOM), HTML output
- LxD Challenge: Make abstract DOM manipulation tangible
- Code Structure using Gaming Project
- Data Abstractions / JSON / Arrays
- Functions, Classes and Methods, Object Literals
- Static Variables, Game Objects and Inheritance
- LxD Challenge: Show how OOP concepts solve real game problems
- Applying OOP to Game Development
- Creating game objects (Player, Enemies, Items)
- Animation using Sprites, Game loop and state management
- LxD Challenge: Design lessons that let students experiment and discover
Your Unique Advantage as LxD Designers
Unlike professional LxD designers who must imagine the learner experience, you are the learner. Your recent struggles with these same concepts become design insights for creating better lessons.
Remember: Every lesson you design, every explanation you test, and every teaching moment you document will help:
- Deepen your own understanding (teaching = deepest learning)
- Help 200+ future students in your class master these concepts
- Build your professional LxD portfolio
Grading / Issue Templates
Teacher and Self evaluation are critical to our success and improvements. Be sure to be prepared throughout the Sprint for a Checkpoint review.
Hard Skills Checkpoint - Technical & LxD
**JavaScript Mastery:**
- [ ] Demonstrate understanding of JavaScript data types (variables, booleans, strings, arrays).
- [ ] Apply mathematical expressions and logical operators in JavaScript.
- [ ] Implement control flow using conditionals and loops.
- [ ] Manipulate the DOM using JavaScript for input and output.
- [ ] Use JSON (object literals) for data abstraction.
- [ ] Use functions, classes and methods in JavaScript.
- [ ] Implement static variables and dynamic (new) objects.
- [ ] Apply OOP principles to create and manage game objects.
- [ ] Modify game mechanics using OOP principles.
**Learning Experience Design:**
- [ ] Apply Design Thinking framework to lesson design (Empathize → Define → Ideate → Prototype → Test).
- [ ] Create POV (Point of View) statements that define learner needs.
- [ ] Use HMW (How Might We) questions to generate teaching solutions.
- [ ] Design lessons with clear learning objectives and success criteria.
- [ ] Build code examples that progress from simple to complex.
- [ ] Create practice activities that reinforce concepts.
- [ ] Test lessons with peers and iterate based on feedback.
Soft Skills Checkpoint - Teaching & Collaboration
**Teaching Skills:**
- [ ] Present concepts clearly to peers.
- [ ] Respond effectively to student questions.
- [ ] Adapt explanations when students don't understand.
- [ ] Provide constructive feedback on peer lessons.
- [ ] Be prepared to teach on designated Teaching Day.
**Collaboration & Documentation:**
- [ ] Work effectively with team members on lesson design.
- [ ] Communicate progress and challenges clearly.
- [ ] Use version control (GitHub) to manage lesson content.
- [ ] Use issues (GitHub) to track work and progress.
- [ ] Publish lessons iteratively to GitHub Pages.
- [ ] Document LxD process and teaching reflections.
- [ ] Demonstrate problem-solving and debugging skills.
Sprint Closeout - LxD Retrospective
Below is a checklist used to support Sprint 2 completion. These reviews will be done in teams or subteams together with Teacher or TA.
As you look at these items, consider through an LxD lens:
Empathy & Understanding:
- What did you learn about how students struggle with these concepts?
- What teaching approaches resonated most with learners?
Design Process:
- How did Design Thinking help you create better lessons?
- What iterations improved your lesson effectiveness?
Teaching Experience:
- What went well during your teaching sessions?
- What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
- How did peer feedback improve your lessons?
Team Dynamics:
- How did you collaborate with your team on lesson design?
- What could be improved in team dynamics for future teaching?
Self-grade yourself on each item in the checklist (.09 of .1 is a typical max evaluation per line item). Your ability to self-evaluate and reflect on your LxD process will have a large impact on your final grade. Discuss your grades and links with the Team prior to the live review.
The Teacher and TA will require you to link items of accomplishments. These links are elements you can use to organize yourself during your Live Review.
| **Hard Skills** | **Points** | **Grade** | **Link(s)** |
|--------------------------------|---------------|-----------|--------------|
| Fundamentals Lessons (LxD) | .1 * 5 | | |
| HTML Input and Output (LxD) | .1 | | |
| JSON Objects Definitions (LxD) | .1 | | |
| Animation and Sprites (LxD) | .1 | | |
| Game changes | .1 | | |
| LxD Process Documentation | .1 | | |
| Total | 1 | | |
| **Soft Skill** | **Points** | **Grade** | **Link(s)** |
|--------------------------------|---------------|-----------|--------------|
| Teaching Effectiveness | .1 * 3 | | |
| Advocacy / Collaboration | .1 * 3 | | |
| LxD Design Thinking Application| .1 * 2 | | |
| Peer Feedback & Iteration | .1 * 2 | | |
| Total | 1 | | |