Algebra Discount

Competitor Analysis

To find potential opportunities for improvement in existing solutions, I have proceed with a competitor analysis for current online math education apps to understand and define the digital interface impact on user experience within the education technology trend.

YUP helps student find expert tutors anytime with a snapshot of the math question

Strengths

Minimal and efficient interface that use questions to find the most suitable expert to answer it

Weakness

Inconsistent icon design style creates confusion for the user

Mytutorlab connects nearby professional tutors with students and parents

Strengths

Provides filter and navigation system to custom locate the most suitable tutor

Weakness

Long fill in the blank registration deteriorates onboarding experience

Math Tutor grant access to a syllabus of
videos tutorials and worksheets

Strengths

Menu easy to access full video courses for different levels and highlights on math

Weakness

Confusing interface design while adds constantly pop-out creating poor user experience

Through careful examination and analysis of these key characteristics, it became clear that the competition primarily focuses on connecting professional math tutors with students to solve algebraic equations, despite some students still struggling with mathematical practices even after receiving lectures from such tutors. Their solution aims to address this issue by providing additional math lessons that help increase students' interest in mathematics beyond the traditional tutoring model.
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Based on my these research, maybe a gamification for math would be an interesting idea

User Interview Insights

To further investigate my hypothesis, I screen and enlist five individuals who face difficulties in learning math in an online math environment for an interview. This is due to the fact that the majority of math courses have been shifted to online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. My goal is to gain insight into the experiences of university students from aged 20 to 25 regarding their perception of math-related problems, as well as their personal interests and daily routines. This will help measure and understand the importance and concentration they develop for learning math.

Andrew - Age 20

Bobby - Age 23

Cindy - Age 22

Derek - Age 25

Linda - Age 25

4/5 Users - Indicated they prefer mobile than computer gaming
4/5 Users - Expressed they went on tick-tock, instagram, and youtube for at least once per hour
5/5 Users - Claimed that they ate desserts at least once per day
4/5 Users - Procrastinate and frustrated with math
5/5 Users - Enjoy going out to socialize with friends

According to the results, the interview validates a majority of math students who would be interested spending extra time playing with exciting and visual interaction. I was right! This pattern revolve around online gaming, browsing social media. Some expressed that they were interested in having dessert instead.

Because I wanted to test out how my users reacted to online and digital gaming experience, I also conducted an observational and behaviour usability test with existing math gaming app. As I observe user have an easier time with MathBrain than Brilliant. Brilliant is lacking the fun and interactive when users did not want to proceed with the continue using the app.

I feel like there is potential to bridge math practice, online gaming, and dessert shopping

Empathy Mapping

To define two types of users, I connect interview data and map out emotional insights consisting user behaviours, pain points, goals of the interviewee

Persona

Using the research synthesis gathered, I developed persona to help focus my user and user stories to guide my designing process. Based on the empathy map, I created two contrasting users. Jenny, a diligent math student but she constantly struggle with math. Lucas, a talented math student that procrastinate his math studies all the time.

User Story

As a user, I want to discuss math problems with friends so that we can learn together

User Story

As a user, I want seek entertaining ways to interactive with math so that I can feel rewarded

Solution

Referencing my personas and user stories, I want to design a MVP that does not involve hiring a tutor like my competitors.

How might we personalize and enhance an interactive learning process that produce a memorable and rewarding experience for different skill level math students?

Users can play and complete math game to receive reward points to exchange for dessert discount

Sketches

I start to sketch and draft out a concept onto paper with all the MVP and Personas in mind.

Guerilla Usability Test

In pursuit of evaluating the usability of an interactive sketch, I conducted a brief user testing session at a university cafeteria. Specifically, I approached a five students and asked their participation in the assessment, wherein they were instructed to interact with the sketch for a period of five minutes. The primary objective was to carefully observe the behavioural patterns exhibited by the users, while simultaneously recording any commentary they may have had regarding the interactive sketch's functionality and user experience.

"The home needs to be simpler" said one of the user.

Key pattern noted that each student allocated a substantial amount of time on the home screen of the interactive sketch, due to feeling frustrated and confused. The repetition of buttons and icons on the home screen had led the students to perceive it as overly complex, in contrast to the other screens which they found to be simpler in design. Users did not realize this is an interactive mathematics-based gaming application with added features of socializing and discounts.