Democratizing Knowledge: Ashoka Learning Ecosystem, eLearning with Social Impact
Ashoka España
Working with Runroom on the development of ALE has been a fantastic experience from day one. They approached us as true partners, not just as service providers, and that made all the difference. From the beginning, their flexibility and adaptability have been exceptional. They understood our vision and brilliantly brought it to life on the platform. We knew this project required top-tier UX expertise, and Runroom proved to be the best in the field. Their creativity exceeded our expectations and helped us realize our dream of democratizing Ashoka's knowledge and community through technology. We couldn't imagine a better partner to walk with us on this journey.
Ashoka, founded in the United States in 1981, is the world’s leading non-profit organization in the field of social entrepreneurship, with a community of over 3,800 Social Entrepreneurs in more than 90 countries. Ashoka Spain was established in 2006 and today boasts 48 Social Entrepreneurs, along with 21 Changemaker Schools and 90 young social innovators.
Ashoka's mission is to empower everyone to recognize and use their ability to improve the world. To achieve this, the organization supports social innovation leaders through fellowship and training programs, creating the world's largest international network of social entrepreneurs and innovators.
With this goal in mind, Ashoka challenged us to conceptualize, design, and develop an eLearning platform to democratize this knowledge across the Spanish-speaking world, taking their mission to the next level. The result of this challenge is ALE (Ashoka Learning Ecosystem), a platform for learning, inspiration, and connection, accessible to everyone. In its first version, ALE offers a learning journey through the world of systemic change, a key process in social innovation.
The process
We started with a very abstract challenge: extending Ashoka's knowledge in the field of social innovation beyond its borders. To shape this vision, Runroom worked with a cross-functional team made up of digital business consultants, researchers, AI experts for the educational field, interface designers, and front-end developers, who integrated with the Ashoka team to co-create the final solution.
Based on a strategic design approach, we proposed a project execution in two clearly differentiated phases:
Phase 1: Research and design of the pedagogical model
During this first phase, we conducted a series of co-creation sessions between Runroom and Ashoka teams, as well as in-depth interviews aimed at designing a training model that meets the needs of the main user archetypes identified, ranging from social entrepreneurs to employees of companies committed to social innovation.
We structured these sessions using various Design Thinking tools applied to strategic planning, such as the “Course Canvas,” which allows us to define both the learning experience and the content itself.
The co-creation sessions and in-depth interviews conducted in the first phase were essential in designing a robust and relevant pedagogical model. We used strategic design tools like the ‘Course Canvas’ to define both the learning experience and specific content, ensuring that each learning path was aligned with the users' objectives. It has been a pleasure to collaborate with a company like Ashoka, made up of motivated individuals striving to make a real impact on society through their work. This project allowed me to get closer to the world of social innovation and learn from them.
Phase 2: Design and implementation of the first course on a digital platform
Based on the research conducted, we shaped the first version of the Ashoka Learning System, which includes the visual identity and branding of the new ALE. This identity is inspired by Ashoka's visual style but with its own unique personality.
We worked in an Agile format with a dedicated product team to design and develop both the public-facing part of ALE and the configuration of the chosen LMS, Thinkific, as the platform to deliver the courses produced.
One of the challenges we particularly enjoyed was participating in the creation of content for the different learning paths: from concept development to scriptwriting, video production, presentations, and platform documentation, all following the defined style guidelines.
For these tasks, we leveraged the power of generative AI by setting up a customized instance of ChatGPT, using Ashoka’s proprietary content, and giving it a specific style and tone. This approach allowed us to standardize the content style and ensure high-quality results throughout the platform.
Results
We launched ALE with an initial learning course on systemic change, organized into four distinct learning paths that allow users to personalize their experience based on their specific needs:
- Fundamentals of Systemic Change
- Strategies for Systemic Change
- Collaboration and Leadership for Systemic Change
- Scaling Social Impact
In just one week since the product launch, we already have hundreds of registered users, 91.89% of whom have begun a personalized learning journey.
New journeys and training paths for the changemakers of the future will be added very soon.
It has been a pleasure and an honor to be part of this project in the world of social innovation, alongside pioneers in social entrepreneurship who are capable of transforming the way the world works to create positive societal change.
Working with Ashoka has been an enriching experience. The close collaboration with the Ashoka team and the integration of generative AI to standardize the content were key to achieving a high-quality final product. Seeing the high rate of registered users and the quick uptake of personalized learning paths is a clear sign of ALE's positive impact on the society of the future.