Whereas our initial design was focused on a learner (subject) employing the case library (tool) to submit an argumentative essay (objective), an activity theory-driven persona and scenario could have caused us to consider easy access of the assignment description to minimize unnecessary navigation. The interface could have also linked to additional rules, such as plagiarism and due dates, that were already established. In doing so, this would have allowed us to expand beyond a siloed understanding of the persona and thus allow the design team to better consider the overall learner experience.
The authors summary of what methods they should have used to produce more effective results is the most important part of the article, in my opinion. It allows the reader to start from that point in their creation process and build, instead of going through the initial stages to get to the same point. The value of learning from our own and others missteps is demonstrated here.