Blackboard App -UI Redesign
Proposed redesign of the existing Blackboard App entails the development of a new, University-branded iOS app experience specifically tailored for students currently pursuing their studies through online courses.
Defining the Use Case
The app, currently available for iOS, provides a streamlined view of the course environment. Striping away the depth and breadth of the learning management system (LMS) functionality, the app focuses on specific course functions. Students are able to view content and participate within enrolled courses.
The objective is to redesign the existing Blackboard mobile app for students. While providing a limited range of the depth and breadth of Blackboard, the existing app fails to leverage the native functionality of a smartphone. Increase capabilities to enable a broader range of course oriented tasks using; camera integration, allow image embeds, file linking, and rich text editor integration.
User Research
As a Blackboard Administrator at National University I’m able to access user activity data. This information provides insights to where students are spending the majority of their time while online. Using Blackboard metrics, and University demographic information will inform requirements, persona development, and the design of the proposed app.
Student Profile
National University is San Diego’s largest private nonprofit university founded in 1971. The following enrollment and demographic data is taken from the Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System provided by the National Center for Educational Statistics.
National Center for Education Statistics, College Navigator - National University, Institute of Educational Serviuces, nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=119605
Total Enrollments
Student Demographics
Age
Race / Ethnicity
Persona
Sheena Cummings, a 33-year old working mom with the desire to advance her career while maintaining a healthy work and life balance. This persona is representative of a National University student and the key demographic the University aims to support.
Sheena Cummings
Busy Working Mother
San Diego, CA
Age: 33
Sales Manager Full-time
Sheena is always on-the-go! She’s a 33-year old wholesale Sales Manager for a local footwear company. She currently resides in Downtown San Diego with her husband and their one year old daughter. Both parents work full-time, and their daughter is enrolled in daycare Monday through Friday. Sheena is looking to increase her efficiency at work to prevent having to work at night while at home. She also struggles to keep on top of her responsibilities, often preventing her from spending time with her family. Even with all this to manage, Sheena is still looking to complete an MBA to help position her for a desired Regional Sales Manager position down the line. Whether it's career demands, running errands or family time; she tries to find moments throughout her busy day to get tasks complete.
Needs
Make the best use of her time by staying focused on completing tasks.
Ability to maintain a flexible schedule to stay on top of personal responsibilities and maintain professional goals.
Goals
Balance a successful career and raise a family.
Renewed focus on education to assist with career advancement and to meet her professional goals of becoming a Regional Sales Manager.
Problems
Time management. The more tasks Sheena can complete on breaks while at work or during her downtime at home, the better.
With a varying schedule of rotating responsibilities in both work and life, Sheena needs to find a degree program that’s flexible.
Storyboard Scenario
Storyboards can effectively communicate both design concepts and user needs. They provide contextual information of how you intend users to interact with the proposed design from an ecological and interactive perspective. They can convey the user experience by developing a persona narrative via descriptive elements (visual or written) to represent their thoughts, actions and emotions. Without these transitional queues designers are left guessing how to address potential problems with the proposed design. In essence, a storyboard provides context of your design’s use and solidifies its ability to solve problems your persona may face.
One such scenario…
Sheena has recently enrolled at National University to complete her MBA. Her courses are online and time-intensive due to the 1-month format. Sheena’s access to her course while on-the-go is very important and necessary to balance work, school, and her personal life. Her assignments for week one are due tomorrow.
She’s currently at work but will need to travel to Orange County for a sales meeting. Luckily her manager along with a few of her colleagues will be carpooling to the meeting. The travel time will allow her to complete some of her written assignments and post to the discussion threads. Since she left her laptop at the office she’ll need to complete the course work on her smartphone. Sheena is hopeful she can continue her work even as the connectivity becomes spotty on 5 North. If Sheena can’t complete her work before the sales meeting, perhaps she can on the way back to the office.
Wireframing Blackboard App Redesign
National University branded Blackboard iOS app.
1
Course access while "on-the-go" with custom Blackboard App. University branded splash page when App launches.
2
MyNU home screen with quick navigational links to your courses, organizations, due dates and grades.
3
After clicking on DISCUSSIONS, a listing of available course threads load. Clicking on "lesson" opens the corresponding thread (collapsible menu). Click "+" to respond to selected thread.
4
From within the selected thread , a rich text editor. Click in the editor to beginning typing.
5
Keyboard launches. Full rich text editing capability. Once user begins typing, the App "auto saves" work.
6
After completing thread response, users can embed images to help illustrate their point.
7
Clicking the image icon in the rich text launches access to your phone's photo collection.
8
Select image from your collection. Click "CHOOSE" to embed photo within response.
9
Once the image is positioned, users select "POST" to submit thread response, or "CANCEL" if they choose not to post their response.
10
After successfully posting, a list of all students' responses to the Lesson 1 thread are listed.
11
Hamburger menu on top left provides main navigation back to MyNU, Profile, Settings.
12
Returns user back to MyNU.
Medium Fidelity Prototype
The prototype focuses on simplified course navigation with limited Blackboard features. The specific workflow showcases discussion board interaction, the inclusion of a rich text editor, and native device functionality.
Mock Client Presentation
A mock client presentation stating the overall all project objects, research, user-centered approach and challenges.