Examarly is an online learning platform that provides educational resources to students across the globe. As part of its effort to improve the user experience, in 2022 Examarly introduced a new scheduler feature that allows students to easily schedule their study sessions.
My role
Responsible for research, conceptualisation, design, user testing and delivery of key modules and feature areas.
the team
Swaraj Gogoi (UX designer), Abhishek Thomas (Senior UX designer)
timeline
Oct 2022— Nov 2022
problem
Before the introduction of the new scheduler, students had to manually create a schedule for their study sessions. This was a time-consuming and tedious task, and it often resulted in students missing important study sessions or not being able to stick to their schedule. Examarly identified this as a problem and set out to create a new scheduler that would be easy to use and would help students stick to their study schedule.
We wanted aspirants to have efficient consumption of knowledge while also giving back some time to them. It was a pre-requisite that students needed to answer few questions to customize the scheduler for them. It was a mandate that students are able to understand changes with minimum effort. With this consumption model, we also experimented with the element of the user with several iterations focusing on the significance of the functionality of adding customized tasks.The science of event creation and consumption remains the same in all the different views but according to the density of the events, customers can prefer different views.
Empathize
In the empathize stage, we seeked to understand the users' needs and experiences through research, observation, and interviews. We conducted user surveys, analyzed data on user behavior, and observed users interacting with existing study scheduling tools.The goal was to gain a deep understanding of the users' pain points, motivations, and goals.
Define
In the Define stage, we used the insights gained in the empathize stage to define the problem and articulate the users' needs and goals. We created user personas and problem statements to guide the design process. The goal was to create a clear and focused problem statement that guided ideation and prototyping.
Ideate
In the ideate stage, we generated a wide range of possible solutions to the defined problem. Our product team used brainstorming techniques, mind mapping, or other ideation methods to generate ideas. The end goal was to generate a large quantity of diverse ideas that can be evaluated and refined in the next stage.
Prototype
In the prototype stage, we created rough, low-fidelity versions of the most promising solutions. We used sketches, wireframes, or other basic prototypes to test and refine the ideas. The goal was to quickly create and test prototypes to learn what works and what doesn't.
Test
In the test stage, we readily tested the prototypes with users and gathered feedback to refine and improve the design. The product and engineering team performed usability testing, user feedback surveys, or other testing methods to gather data. The goal was to iterate on the design based on user feedback and improve the user experience.
Affinity mapping
To understand the problem in detail, the product team began to prioritize and segregate themes into 4 basic factors namely "User Pain Points", "User Needs", "Design Solutions" and "Potential Barriers" for improving the user experience and used it as a reference point for potential solutions and design decisions.
how might we's
By using these HMW questions after carefully assessing the Affinity map, the product team identified specific areas for improvement and began to explore the direction we wanted to move forward in.
How might we send reminders to students to help them stay on track with their study schedule?
How might we create a study scheduler that is simple and intuitive for students to use?
How might we customize the study scheduler to fit the unique needs and preferences of each student?
How might we integrate the study scheduler seamlessly into the existing Examarly platform?
How might we ensure that the study scheduler is accessible to students with different abilities and disabilities?
How might we use data and analytics to help students optimize their study schedule and improve their academic performance?
How might we motivate students to stick to their study schedule and complete their assignments on time?
How might we provide feedback to students on their progress and performance based on their study schedule?
impact / effort matrix
Based on this matrix, the highest-priority solutions are a customizable study schedule, automated reminders, seamless integration with existing study materials and resources, and performance tracking and analytics with personalized insights. These solutions have a high impact on the user experience and are relatively easy to implement. The medium-priority solutions are easy rescheduling and cancellation options, and gamification features such as badges and rewards for completing study sessions and assignments, which have a moderate impact and effort.
explorations
We thought of all the different approaches we can take. Architecture wise, we can have a vertical calendar for mobile devices and the user interactions can be static or dynamic. During the early stage of the project, used these sketches to test out the viability of these ideas, and to get quick feedback from the team.
#1: Calendar Layout
The first option is to display the scheduled tasks in a vertical calendar scroll of individual options.
Pros: 1. Interaction is simple and well understood 2. Users have the ability to add custom tasks
Cons: 1. No clear, understandable mental model for how tasks are ranked 2. High engineering cost 3. Overwhelming set of options for use 4. Not scalable to large feature set 5. Not viable as dashboard
#2: Task Todos
The second solution id to display the scheduled tasks in a vertical manner in form of a todo list. Each todo list card depicts a scheduled task with a tag to convey its status of completion.
CARD Anatomy
solution
Final Outcome
Each highlight captures an aspect of the new Onboarding experience. It calls out which design goal it adheres to, what user scenario or problem its solving and what the solution is.
design goal: usability
Performance Tracking
The scheduler provides students with insights into their study habits and progress.
They can view metrics as well as qualitative factors such as status of a particular Daily Task, number of study sessions completed, and assignments completed on time.
design goal: retention
Gamification
The scheduler includes gamification features to motivate students to stick to their study schedule and complete their assignments and revisions on time.
For example, students can actively see and work on their streak right from the dashboard and earn badges for completing study sessions or achieving certain study goals.
design goal: appeal and accessible
User-friendly interface
The new scheduler has a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for students to create and manage their study schedule.
Moreover, The scheduler was seamlessly integrated into Examarly's existing dashbaord platform, making it easy for students to access and use.
impact & final outcomes
After the new scheduler was launched, Examarly received positive feedback from students. The scheduler was easy to use and helped students stay on track with their studies. Students appreciated the ability to customize their schedule and receive reminder notifications. The rescheduling and cancellation features were also well-received, as they allowed students to easily adapt to changes in their schedule. Overall, the new scheduler has helped improve the user experience on Examarly and has made it easier for students to achieve their academic goals.
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