The designing of Bendable Maine is well underway!
The Drucker Institute team was recently back in the state to hold four design sessions—one in Portland and three online (due to COVID concerns).
All of them were highly interactive, as we engaged 100 or so local librarians, academic librarians, adult education providers, workforce development professionals and other key stakeholders on a key question: What should serve as the gateway to the Bendable Maine digital platform?
Should we focus on putting learning topics front and center? Or should we make location—where people live—the starting point for accessing learning opportunities? Or should learners begin by giving a peek into their wider interests, which would then lead them to recommended content?
None of the early design concepts we shared was fully baked. Based on the feedback we received, we’re very likely to end up with a mashup of ideas.
Next up: Our four Bendable Fellows will continue conducting design research with organizations and individuals across Maine. (We introduced two Fellows in September’s Digest. You’ll meet the other two next month.)
At left: A participant in the Bendable Maine design workshop in Portland chooses her favorite way to enter the lifelong learning system’s digital platform.
At right: The Drucker Institute team leads a robust discussion.