Digital Learning Design Challenge
The Stanford Digital Learning Design Challenge invites you to bring your creativity and innovation to help solve the most pressing challenges facing learners today.
Overview
Working in small groups or individually, you will pursue an idea that promotes learning, wellness, and community in online environments. You will also have an opportunity to design and prototype a real-world solution with funding and mentorship from Stanford and StartX.
The Stanford Digital Learning Design Challenge begins Fall Quarter.
Information Sessions:
Friday, Sept. 17, from 2:30-3:30 pm PT (Virtual)
Monday, Sept. 20, from 5:00-6:00 pm PT (On Campus)
Sunday, Sept. 26, from 12:45-4:00 pm PT (Campus Demo Day)
Key activities
Digital Learning Design Workshops
Fall Quarter: EDUC 254A, TH, 2:45-4:45 pm, 1-2 Credit
Winter Quarter: ECUC 254B, TU, 4:00-6:00 pm, 1-2 Credit
To develop new project ideas, meet and work with like-minded students, and learn how digital learning projects are prototyped and evaluated, join this series of workshops and mentoring sessions with Stanford and Silicon Valley experts.
What You’ll Do:
✓ Develop New Project Ideas
✓ Find Colleagues & Build Teams
✓ Apply Human-Centered Design Processes
✓ Leverage Learning Science, Game Design & UX Principles
✓ Evaluate For-Profit, Non-Profit & Research Potential
✓ Prototype With Digital Tools & Test with End-Users
✓ Develop & Deliver a Great Pitch
Explore the EDUC 254 Courses
Pitch Events
Fall Quarter Pitch Event, Thursday, November 18, 2021
$1,500 Seed Grants
At the end of Fall Quarter, student teams will be invited to pitch their project ideas to faculty and industry experts for $1,500 Seed Grants for prototype development.
Winter Quarter Pitch Event, Tuesday, March 3, 2022
$9,000 Research Awards
At the end of Winter Quarter, student teams will again be invited to pitch their project ideas and demonstrate their prototypes to compete for awards of up to $9,000 for research.
StartX Student-in-Residence Program
During Winter Quarter, students will also be invited to apply for the StartX Student-in-Residence scholarship, a financial aid program intended to support student teams who are building a company or non-profit organization while completing their degree.
Students who receive the Student-in-Residence scholarship also earn exclusive access to structured ways of connecting with StartX's network of hundreds of highly experienced and industry-leading mentors to help think through key decisions, including successful StartX entrepreneurs, VCs, Stanford faculty and alumni. Receive customized coaching, where you need it most, from top notch coaches and domain experts.
Learn more about StartX
Showcase
Join last year’s Design Challenge participants, who range from first-year undergrads to fifth-year Ph.D. candidates and come from schools and departments across campus.
FAQ
Why participate in the Digital Learning Design Challenge?
Workshops
The design challenge gives students access to a series of workshops to grow your knowledge and your network. Workshops will focus on learner-centered design processes, learning science and design, technical implementation, team building, and entrepreneurship.
Mentorship
Participants selected for funding will gain access to mentors who provide support throughout the later-stage research, design, and development phases of their projects. Mentors include faculty experts, industry experts, and near-peers with recent experience in development of digital learning experiences.
Resources
The Digital Learning Design Challenge and Start X provide students with an opportunity to receive award funding throughout various phases of ideation and design.
Connection to gatekeepers
Participants selected for funding will also be connected to a community of entrepreneurs, faculty experts, and industry gatekeepers interested in leveraging science and design to produce more effective learning solutions.
Who can participate?
Current Stanford students, on their own or with a group, can participate in the challenge. Non-Stanford students can join as long as at least one member of a team is a Stanford student with a valid SUNet ID.
Do I need a project idea and a team to join?
You can come with a new project idea, or we can help you develop one through human-centered design processes. You can bring a team or build a team.
What will I learn?
You will learn to approach problems in education through a student-centered lens, using research and design to create solutions that have the potential for broad adoption. You will have the opportunity to develop and pitch for funding. You may also be selected to conduct early-stage prototyping and present to industry professionals.
Do I need to participate the workshops to submit an entry in the challenge?
EDUC 254 is highly recommended for students with limited experience in the science and design of learning. We encourage students to attend the course, solicit support from mentors, and develop ideas in teams. But the course is not required to submit an entry into the competition. Certain activities like practice pitching and participation in design sprints will be required.
What is the commitment?
EDUC 254A and EDUC 254B are both variable 1-2 credit courses for Fall and Winter Quarter. Students may audit the courses by special permission. Check with the course instructor.
How do I sign up?
Sign up for EDUC 254 in Axess
Sign-up for an Info Session on the course and pitch events
Contact
Don’t hesitate to reach out:
learningdesignchallenge@stanford.edu