UX Research

Summer 2020

Socio-Academic Impact of Remote Online Learning from COVID-19

Using design thinking to research the socio-academic impact of COVID-19 remote online learning has had on undergraduate students globally

Design Process

Research

Narrow down topic, conduct user research using various research methods

Understand

Understand empathize with user needs, problems, and goals

Design

Started with solution ideation and ended with design fiction storyboarding

About the Project

As lead UX researcher, I led and guided my team consisting of two other interaction designers. Leadership qualities included coming up with a strategy for our team to establish our target audience, narrow our research while staying guiding our thoughts and ideations to our main solution during a fast paced three-week virtual design thinking internship from
Farmingdale State College and Edinburgh Napier University, U.K.

Research included investigating and measuring student/faculty behaviors and the overall global impact of switching from in-classroom learning to an online format.

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Target Audience

Undergraduate Students transitioning from the physical classroom to online learning.

Problem

For Undergraduate Students, the online learning experience disrupts the learning process due to a lack of communication, feedback and social engagement.

Goal

The goal is to propose different modalities of interaction in an AR Classroom space. Professor in my Pocket is an engaging platform which enables students to communicate effectively both with the professor and their fellow classmates.

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Data Scope

273 responses

In total for two online surveys given to undergraduate students nationally as well as globally including responses from Europe and Israel

20 interviews

With university faculty and undergrad students e.g. in visual communication, sports, biology, medicine, criminal justice, liberal arts, computer science

140+ hours

Gathering research, narrowing down survey questions, narrowing down our broad initial data, sending out surveys, interviewing, ideation and time spent on storytelling the solution

Insightful Quotes

What do they say?

"I absorb nothing from these online classes no matter how hard I try. My environment is not well suited for learning and I'm often distracted by my phone so i can do anything else but "class" so I"m not wasting my time along with my money."

Nick H.

undergrad student

"I look across a room and can't see students' reaction to know whether they understand the material or not. A lot of students are less active in remote online classes and seems afraid to speak up when they have a question. "

Mike Mastermaker

Visual COmmunications professor

ABout the

Surveys

Survey 1

Discovered these key elements:
• Communication became more difficult
• A lack of social support from peers and professors
• Students learn better in a traditional classroom setting
• More creative ways to encourage student engagement

Survey 2

Explored the relationship between a lack of communication between the professor and students. We also investigated whether or not the concentration of students decreased during online learning.

129 responses

Survey 2 - Valuable Points

I feel confident in learning when I can see my professor

I message classmates privately during online classes

The online classroom is a great way to get 1 on 1 feedback from my professors

I have received helpful answers from my professors through email

I ask more questions in an online classroom than in a physical classroom

I walk away from online class due to a lack of social engagement

survey 2

Key Focus

I lose concentration during virtual class after...

Students don’t want to be confined to a specific location for too long. The feeling of being “trapped” and “confined” in their homes makes them both quickly and easily lose concentration. Students can’t communicate efficiently with their professors during online class which interrupts their concentration in class.
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Many home environments are not ideal for learning, mainly from other household members being disruptive. Online classes do not transport students into a productive learning environment.

I feel confident in learning when I can see my professor

We concentrated on this data point for our solution. Having the need to see the professor enhances the learning capabilities of a student. Our main objective was to redefine and explore the notion of “seeing” the professor.

Ideation

Mixed Reality

Storyboarding

Design Fiction

"Pocket Professor"

A package arrives from school on Brianna’s front porch at 10am right before class.

Brianna opens the package and finds a pair of smart glasses called Professor in my Pocket.

Brianna wears the glasses and is able to attend her 10:30am class while doing yoga.

After Completing All Exercises

Through the glasses’s front view, Brianna sees a tiny professor, who glows when talking, displayed in the grass in front of her yoga mat.

Doctor's View on Tablet App

Brianna asks the professor a question hands-free by the voice command, “Hey, Professor.”

To the sides of Brianna, she sees the other students as avatars. A student raising her hand appears larger and glowing than the others.

Brianna looks behind her and sees an exit door. To leave class, she has to use the exit door like when physically leaving the classroom.

Socio-Academic Impact of Remote Online Learning from COVID-19

Design Process

Research

Understand

Design

About the Project

Target Audience

Problem

Goal

Data Scope

273 responses

20 interviews

140+ hours

What do they say?

Nick H.

Mike Mastermaker

Surveys

Survey 1

Survey 2

Survey 2 - Valuable Points

I feel confident in learning when I can see my professor

I message classmates privately during online classes

The online classroom is a great way to get 1 on 1 feedback from my professors

I have received helpful answers from my professors through email

I ask more questions in an online classroom than in a physical classroom

I walk away from online class due to a lack of social engagement

Key Focus

I lose concentration during virtual class after...

I feel confident in learning when I can see my professor

Mixed Reality

Design Fiction

"Pocket Professor"

After Completing All Exercises

Doctor's View on Tablet App

Beth Donnelly

Lets Talk!