Did we miss you Tuesday night?

TLDR: If you are ready to register for Ask Like A Pro's Fall 2023 cohort you can do so here.​

TLDR: Ready to jump into the recording? It's here.

Tuesday’s Q&A with Ask Like A Pro alumni, several prospective learners, and this cohort's research project sponsor Blurb, was terrific! A few incoming All-In students joined us and we enjoyed very candid dialog. Great questions all around!

I provided a quick overview, covering Ask Like A Pro course basics. We fielded questions about several details — how the program differs from others, why the alums chose Ask Like A Pro over alternatives, discounts for those who have been laid off and for people paying from countries with a significant currency conversion difference, the $800 student stipend, payment plans, sponsored research projects, whether working full-time is possible while registered (yes!), how to leverage the experience in case studies and resumes, what happens after the cohorts, if the learnings can be applied to sectors other than tech (yes!), how to schedule one-on-one time with me to see which participation level is the right fit, and more.​

Watch the recorded session here >>

Check out the cohort tools and learning portal overview video (recorded previously).

And answers to some follow-up questions:​

Q: How does Ask Like A Pro approach the real-world research project?

The six workshops in the ALAP series build on each other and progress in the same way actual research projects unfold in IRL. We are working on actual research projects after all! NOTE: There is some overlap in the timeline; for example, logistics, ethics, and note-taking are considered before interviews are conducted, but the step of creating the discussion guide is necessary to discover the issues to consider.

Most importantly, we know of no other research learning opportunity that moves you through every single stage of the research project. (Others offer single, topic-specific classes, but not the full end-to-end, "learn by doing" hands-on application on real projects with real stakeholders and business problems to explore/solve.) We practice what we preach, and research with our students (and constant iteration!) led us to this comprehensive full-cycle approach.

Q: What else makes Ask Like A Pro different from other online courses?

A: Our All-in and Observer experiences are next-generation online programs known as a Cohort-Based Course (CBC). Unlike earlier “go it alone” online courses, CBCs like ours create true communities for deeper, more meaningful learning experiences.

• You get an involved, accessible, expert practitioner as your instructor (me!)

• A teaching assistant who has participated as an Observer, an All-In, and as a TA in the previous three cohorts (now working as a user researcher at AnswerLab)

• A cohort of students you know by name (and voice, and face, and personality) and can call on for support, network and to trade ideas.

• You become part of a team that counts on your contributions to complete a real-world, hands-on applied research project.

• What sounds — and feels — a lot like a traditional grad school experience is what you’ll get as an All-in Student.

Q: What does the Cohort-Based Course approach mean for me?

• A safe learning space: Our workshops are a safe space to learn, attempt solutions, make mistakes and recover — together. Participants are not competing with one another or for a “grade.” It’s a truly collaborative learning space, filled with engaged, invested fellow curious learners.

• Mutual support: Whether it’s a course assignment, a real-world issue with a current job, a technical issue, or just a need for a little encouragement, Ask Like A Pro students can reach out to me, the cohort and alumni for support. We help each other and form tight bonds.

• Better instruction: As an instructor, I LOVE the live student questions and feedback during workshops, weekly check-ins, office hours, and via Slack. They allow me — and the cohort — chances to clarify and expand on important points that might go unanswered in a one-way format. The two-way conversations also allow us to respond in real-time. (And this saves us all more time in the end!)

• Accountability: Live interactive workshops and set due dates mean you’re more likely to successfully complete the course. You’re showing up and doing the work for yourself, of course, but also for your cohort and the unique contributions, they’ll come to expect from you. It truly helps everyone stay motivated and accountable.

• Added perspective: Every Ask Like A Pro cohort brings together a unique mix of students, from varied places in the knowledge base for problem-solving, and additional points of view that enrich everyone’s learning. We've had students from over 24 countries participate!

Alumni consistently tell us their cohort was (and still is!) part of the secret sauce that made Ask Like A Pro such a change agent in their professional lives. Working together through the course and their research projects helps alumni form real relationships and become some of the most useful members of one another’s networks. Many students land their next job through an alum!

• Adobe

• AnswerLab

• Alibaba

• Amazon

• Apple

• Atlassian

• Balsam

• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

• Cisco

• Credit Karma

• Dreambox

• Ford

• Google

• Highmark Health

• The Home Depot

• Indeed

• Inspirato

• International Rescue Committee

• Levi’s Meta

• MorganStanley

• Pic Collage

• Philips

• Robinhood

• Roblox

• State Farm

• Vanguard

• User Interviews

• Workable

• Zendesk

Ready to grow your knowledge, your confidence, and your network? We’d love to have you join our community. Learn more about Ask Like A Pro.

We have one All-In seat and a few Observer seats available for this cohort! The first live workshop is September 18th. All workshops are recorded if you cannot attend live.

A very special thanks to the alums and incoming All-Ins who spoke at Tuesday's event! Feel free to reach out to any of them, or me, for additional questions.

Upcoming Events

• Is ALAP Right for Me? The August 22nd recording can be found here. ​

• Ladies That UX (Washington DC) “Ask Michele Anything” August 23 from 4-5pm PT. Recording available next week.

• Bitesize UX / Curiosity Tank Card Sort event. August 29 from 3-5pm PT. Register on Eventbrite and enter discount code CURIOSITY25 to receive 25% off.

• IamJ Designs Co Podcast with Jaison Thomas. 9am PT September 6. Details are here.​

• QRCA Special Interest Group: AMA with Michele Ronsen. September 1st from 9-10am PT. Register here.​

Speak up, get involved, and share the love!

• ​Connect with Michele on LinkedIn for more UXR tips and UX discussions

• Read about Curiosity Tank workshops.

• interested in team user research training? Let us know!​

• Participate as an On-Demand, or as an Observer, for less!​

• Dive into a different UX Research term every week! Sign up for UX Lex weekly emails here.

• Forward this email to someone who you think might enjoy it. Better yet, sign them up here. It will be the gift that keeps on giving.

And that’s a wrap!

We try to alternate between a theme and UX/UXR jobs, events, classes, articles, and other happenings every few weeks. What do you think? We're constantly iterating and would still love to hear your input.​

Stay curious,
- Michele and the Curiosity Tank team

PS: Still have questions after watching the Q&A replay? Click here to set up a personal call or Zoom with me (Michele)!