Improving usability of a simulation platform - Viewpoint
Challenge
The objective was to do a comprehensive assessment of a learning platform to improve its experience and accessibility. Viewpoint is a tool that supports role-playing simulations much like Model UN. It allows instructors to create and implement engaged learning experiences for students in both remote and in-person settings.
Impact
The platform serves top universities across U.S. with over 11,000 learners. Our recommendations enhanced accessibility, reduced cognitive load, resulting in improved decision-making speed of the users. The client was pleased as our findings aligned with their business goals.
Tools
Otter.ai, Qualtrics, Lighthouse, Figjam, Google Suite, Zoom, WebAIM
Team
Jinjie Xu, Spandan Sharma, Shruti Chhajed, and Vivek Selvaraj
Duration
Jan - Apr 2023
Role
UX Researcher
What is Viewpoint?
Overview
Cloud-based decision-making platform for academic use.
Structured learning activity where students adopt personas (mainly public figures).
Similar to Model UN, allowing students to engage from different perspectives.
Key Features
Enables students to share, communicate, and register decisions in debates.
Provides seamless collaboration and communication for participating students.
Facilitates easy simulation creation and moderation for instructors.
Learning Outcomes
Understand how a bill passes to become a law or becomes a policy.
Develops both hard and soft skills: Persuasive communication, Empathy, Coalition building, Negotiation
Encourages collaborative decision-making and strategic thinking.
Students are given a real life scenario and are assigned roles. They navigate their way on the platform to engage with other participants. The main frame of the simulation includes: Scenario, Roles and Groups, Communication, Activities, Events, Decisions and Poll outcomes, Resources, Surveys, Debrief and Reflection and Assessment.
Interaction map
We created a comprehensive interaction map, allowing us to construct a clear mental model for navigation tailored to the diverse user groups.
Users
Instructor
- Creates simulations
- Customizes pre-made simulations as per theme
Student
Participates in the simulations
Interacts with fellow participants
Accesses simulation resources
Facilitator
Moderates on-going simulations
Inperson interactation with students during the simulation
Qualitative Data analysis: Ethnographic Study
We prototyped Karrie for the demo by utilizing a regular shopping cart with an attachment of a tablet screen and a lid to lock the cart. We built a proximity sensor using Photon which is installed within the cart and a touch sensor to enact NFC payment.
Karrie won the 'Most likely to attract investors' award 🏆
Limitations
Our product makes a futuristic assumption that all grocery stores will grant access to the Karrie App so that it can gather inventory data, which would subsequently help the cart keep track of the items in the cart.
The ‘follow me’ feature comes with its limitations when using it in crowded aisles.
Learnings
Every user is different and your design will be interpreted differently by each of them.
Breaking it down into achievable deadlines and keeping iterating the designs as they grow is the best solution.
