AI-Powered Learning in Germany

Education is evolving, and with AI rapidly transforming industries, the classroom is no exception. EduCoach was born from a vision: to create an AI-powered Learning Management System (LMS) for Germany’s Hauptschulen, ensuring that teachers have the right tools to provide individualized learning experiences.

As a team lead, I worked alongside two UX designers, a visual designer, and a business designer to bring this vision to life. Together, we navigated complex challenges, collaborated with stakeholders, and designed a safe, trustworthy, and effective AI integration into the German school system.

A Step-by-Step Journey: From Concept to Implementation

To build EduCoach, we took a structured and user-centered approach, engaging directly with teachers, students, and educational experts. Here’s how our journey unfolded:

1. Defining the Vision – Value Proposition Workshop

We started with a Value Proposition Workshop to align on our core mission:

• How can AI truly support teachers instead of replacing them?

• What are the main pain points in Hauptschulen that AI can address?

• What makes an AI-powered LMS trustworthy, ethical, and effective?

This workshop helped crystallize our vision, setting the foundation for EduCoach.

2. Understanding the Users – User Journey Workshop

Technology is only as strong as the user experience behind it. We mapped out the daily workflow of teachers and students to pinpoint where AI could add the most value.

Key insights emerged:

• Teachers struggled with administrative overload, reducing time for individualized teaching.

• AI could help personalize learning paths while keeping human educators in control.

• Trust in AI was a major concern—we needed a human-first, AI-assisted approach

3. Learning from the Source – User Interviews

We conducted in-depth interviews with educators to refine our approach. These conversations revealed that teachers needed:

• AI-generated but customizable lesson plans to save time.

• A smart support system to assist with grading and administrative tasks.

• Transparency in AI decision-making to maintain trust.

This feedback shaped the core functionalities of EduCoach.

4. Observing Real Classrooms – Shadowing Sessions

To ensure our AI solutions worked in real-world settings, we shadowed teachers in classrooms.

We saw firsthand:

• The delicate balance between structured curricula and individualized teaching.

• How digital tools were used—and where they fell short.

• The frustration of overcomplicated software that added more stress than value.

These insights drove our design choices, keeping the platform intuitive and teacher-friendly.

5. Co-Creating the Future – Workshop

With research in hand, we gathered in Berlin for an intensive design sprint. This was where ideas became tangible:

• Sprint design: Mapping out the MVP (Minimum Viable Product).

• Prototyping: Creating wireframes and visual concepts.

• Stakeholder alignment: Presenting initial concepts to educators for feedback.

This workshop ensured that EduCoach was shaped by those who would use it daily.

6. Fine-Tuning the Concept – Munich Sessions

We took our early prototypes to Munich for testing with select schools.

We refined EduCoach based on:

• Teacher feedback on usability and AI recommendations.

• Adjustments to improve lesson personalization.

• Ethical AI considerations to keep human teachers in control.

7. Kick-Off Implementation – Turning Vision into Reality

With a clear roadmap, we began the implementation phase, focusing on:
Technical development – ensuring AI algorithms aligned with educational needs.
Pilot testing – introducing EduCoach to a limited number of schools for real-world validation.
Iterative improvements – refining based on ongoing user feedback.

My Role: Leading a Cross-Disciplinary Team

As a project lead, my responsibilities covered:
Project Design & Planning – Structuring milestones and deliverables.
Stakeholder Management – Aligning educators, policymakers, and tech teams.
Sprint Design – Ensuring iterative, user-driven development.
Timeline & Execution – Keeping the project on track and adaptable.

This project was not just about technology—it was about creating an educational tool that truly serves teachers and students.

The Impact of EduCoach

Empowered teachers with AI tools that save time, not replace them.
Personalized learning paths for students, improving engagement and outcomes.
Transparent, ethical AI that enhances, rather than disrupts, education.

EduCoach is a step toward the future of AI-assisted education, built on the foundation of collaboration, trust, and human-centered design.