Nonprofit Leader Training Platform

Evaluating the user experience of CNP Central, an LMS platform for those who are pursuing a Certified Nonprofit Professional credential

Background

CNP Central is a learning management system launched by Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (website), targeting undergraduate and graduate students at any institution across the United States. CNP Central provides study materials and networking opportunities for students working toward their Certified Nonprofit Professional credential, which is the only nationally recognized nonprofit management credential in the U.S.

Research Goal

The goal of this project is to identify general usability issues with the current platform and find ways to improve the learning experience for the students (users). Additionally, we will explore (perceived) obstacles to participating in a mentor match program that is offered as part of the learning experience.

Research Process, Obstacles, and Solutions

I have conducted remote in-depth interviews to get the deepest insights from current and former users of CNP Central. Originally, the plan had been to recruit current users only, but we were met with very low sign-up rates despite offering a raffle entry for one of several $25 Amazon.com gift cards. The client and I then decided we would 1) expand the pool to recent graduates by reaching out to them directly, and 2) advertise the research opportunity via the organization's social media platforms. This has resulted in greater signups, however we still fell short of our original target of 5-7 participants. In order to supplement the findings from the interviews, I am currently designing a survey to be sent out to the participant pool. Hopefully, the lesser time commitment of the survey (rather than scheduling and participating in an interview) will help us derive more insights.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse