User Research: Personas and Empathy Maps

Active learning works well here because students need to experience the limitations of static designs firsthand. When they test ideas with peers or observe real user behaviors, they quickly see where their assumptions break down. This tactile, iterative process builds empathy and sharpens their ability to respond to feedback, which is essential for user-centered design.

• Year 9
• Technologies
• 3 activities
• 20 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze the needs, behaviors, and motivations of diverse user groups by creating detailed personas.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of empathy maps in understanding user perspectives for digital product design.
3. Design a user research plan that incorporates methods to validate assumptions about user wants.
4. Explain the role of empathy in the engineering of a digital product through case study analysis.

Simulation Game

⏱ 50 min·Pairs

Simulation Game: Paper Prototype Testing

Students create a mobile app interface using paper and sticky notes. One student acts as the 'computer' (moving the paper 'screens'), while another acts as the 'user' (tapping the buttons). This helps identify confusing navigation paths instantly.

Prepare & details

Design for users with different levels of technical literacy.

Facilitation Tip: During the Paper Prototype Testing activity, circulate with a timer and prompt groups to focus on one task at a time, such as logging in or finding a search bar, to avoid overwhelming testers with too many actions.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Visual Hierarchy Audit

Groups are given a screenshot of a popular website and must use transparent overlays to trace the 'eye path' a user would take. They then redesign the layout to change what the user notices first, presenting their reasoning to the class.

Prepare & details

Analyze the role empathy plays in the engineering of a digital product.

Facilitation Tip: For the Visual Hierarchy Audit, provide colored highlighters and a printed screenshot so students can physically mark up areas of focus, reinforcing visual analysis through tactile engagement.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Low-Fi vs. High-Fi

Students discuss in pairs when it is better to use a quick paper sketch versus a polished digital mockup. They share their conclusions, focusing on the trade-offs between speed, cost, and the type of feedback they need.

Prepare & details

Evaluate methods to validate assumptions about what a user actually wants.

Facilitation Tip: During Think-Pair-Share, assign specific roles—one student defends the low-fi choice, the other the high-fi choice—to push students to justify their design decisions logically.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Teach this topic by modeling the design process yourself. Start with a quick, messy sketch of a user interface, then verbally walk through your thought process while testing it with a student. Point out where your assumptions were wrong and how the feedback changed your approach. This transparency shows students that iteration is part of the craft, not a reflection of their skill. Avoid spending too much time on theory; instead, let students grapple with real usability issues early and often. Research shows that early, low-stakes failure leads to deeper learning and more resilient design thinking.

What to Expect

Students will demonstrate the ability to create functional prototypes that test specific design choices, gather meaningful feedback, and iterate based on those insights. They will also show they can identify and articulate user needs through empathy maps and personas, using clear evidence from testing sessions.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Paper Prototype Testing, students may believe a prototype needs to look polished to be effective.

What to Teach Instead

During Paper Prototype Testing, remind students that the goal is functionality, not aesthetics. Hold up a deliberately 'ugly' example—a paper sketch with mismatched fonts and uneven lines—and ask students to test it. Point out that users often critique these rough designs more honestly because they don’t feel intimidated by a polished look.

Common Misconception

During the Visual Hierarchy Audit, students may assume their first wireframe is the strongest because it was their initial idea.

What to Teach Instead

During the Visual Hierarchy Audit, require students to create at least three different wireframe versions of the same screen. Display these side by side and ask them to compare which layout guides the eye most effectively. This forces them to reflect on their process and recognize that later iterations often solve problems the first version missed.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After the Paper Prototype Testing activity, provide each student with a brief scenario describing a user of a new app (e.g., a busy parent who needs quick meal ideas). Ask them to write down two key characteristics of this user and one question they would ask this user to better understand their needs.

Quick Check

During the Visual Hierarchy Audit, display a partially completed empathy map for a common digital tool (e.g., a messaging app) with missing elements in the 'Says' or 'Thinks' section. Ask students to identify the gap and explain why filling it would improve the design.

Peer Assessment

After students create a persona for a classmate based on observation and brief interaction, have them present it to the classmate for feedback. The classmate checks for accuracy and completeness, focusing on whether the persona captures their key motivations or frustrations.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge early finishers to create a second paper prototype for the same task, but this time incorporate at least one piece of feedback from their first round of testing.
• Scaffolding for students who struggle: Provide a partially completed empathy map template with guiding questions to help them organize their observations about a user.
• Deeper exploration: Invite a local UX designer or a student from a senior design class to join the class as a guest tester, providing real-world feedback on prototypes.

Key Vocabulary

Persona	A fictional character created to represent a typical user of a product or service. Personas are based on user research and include details about their goals, needs, and behaviors.
Empathy Map	A collaborative visualization used to articulate what a user is thinking, feeling, seeing, and hearing. It helps teams understand user needs and motivations from their perspective.
User Research	The systematic investigation of users and their requirements for a product or service. It aims to gather insights into user behavior, needs, and motivations.
Technical Literacy	The ability to use, understand, and evaluate digital technology. This varies greatly among individuals and impacts how they interact with digital products.