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Quality of Online Education System over Traditional Education during Covid 19

Farhana Jafrin

Farhana.jafrin05@gmail.com

Tasked by Userhub

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Content

Introduction

Research Plan

Key Findings

Recommendation

Solution and Design

Testing and Iteration

Key takeaways

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My role:

UX researcher, UI Designer

Overview

Responsibilities:

Conduct user research, interviewing, analysis and synthesis, persona create, user flow, wireframing,

visual design, prototyping, usability testing.

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Introduction (Problem statement)

COVID-19, highly infectious disease has changed the regular picture of the whole world. Because of this pandemic, countries impose lockdown to reduce death.The covid-19 has affected a long-term impact on education sectors. COVID-19 pandemic has locked the education systems globally affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 200 countries of the world. With close to 90% enrolled students, Bangladesh is among the countries most affected by a complete shutdown. Online learning is a big challenge not only for the students, parents but also for the teachers. Changes to the educational system including proper communication with teachers and institutions, network support, administrative planning, maintaining the course outline, all are new. In this regard along with taking classes, they don’t have enough technical skills and knowledge. Both students and teachers may have drawbacks and both parties may have challenges in continuing the online classes. Presently the use and acceptance of the internet are increasing every day which indicates a better prospect of online teaching and learning (Muilenburg & Berge, 2005). So the challenges faced by the students need to be identified and recommend solution for the strategy development of smooth and quality online education system.

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2. Research Plan

Objective:

The purpose of the study is to improve the quality of the online education system for the students finding the obstacles they face.
The focus is to identify the obstacles first and then recommend the solution to improve online learning during Covid-19 pandemic.

Target Audience:

Students and teachers of Bangladesh (Undergraduate, Graduate) rom Public and Private universities
No of participants is 15

Methodology:

Quantitative and Qualitative research (Survey, In-depth interview using Zoom, google meet and mobile phone communication)
Usability testing (Remote moderate testing)

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Research Questions:

What are the obstacles of the online education system that students are facing during covid-19 pandemic and how the quality of online education can be improved?

What are the influences of Covid 19 on teachers and students’ life?
How has Covid 19 pandemic affected education?
How are the students getting motivated and supported by their teachers?
How effective online educations for both the students and teachers?
What are the obstacles that students are facing in online classes during Covid 19?
How fluent is the digital knowledge of the teachers and students?
What are the positive and negative qualities of the online education system from the perspectives of a student?

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3. Key Findings

The qualitative method was used for this research. The primary audiences are teachers and students from public and private universities and as a secondary audience, parents were chosen. For the demographic data of the participants, we use google forms. The interview sessions were confidential and only used for research purposes. The research data were synthesized and analyzed by using a google spreadsheet.

Working Process

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Analysis and Synthesis: (Students)

Transcribed data and theme from students after taking interview and reported in google spreadsheet.

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Analysis and Synthesis: (Teachers and parents) :

Transcribed data and theme from Teachers & parents after taking interview and reported in google spreadsheet.

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In this research, there were two persona profiles created for the primary audience of students and teachers. “Selina Tabassum” represents the student persona profile and “Chandon Shaha” as the teacher persona profile.

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Persona: Selina

Problem Statement

She is concerned about her future career after completing higher education properly. Online classes and completing semesters are a way that motivates her to do online classes.

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Persona: Chandon

Problem Statement

Due to Covid 19, he is concerned about the student’s future for completing their study. He supports his students as much as he can, both financially and mentally. He tries to be flexible in the class to hold students’ attention and participation

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Based on the analysis, we get 3 main problems as an obstacles.

The students and teachers are positive about the new systems at the beginning. But as time goes by, the finding reveals that students face difficulty accessing online classes and communicating with teachers after online classes. In physical classes, they can contact and meet at any time for understanding class lectures or assignment problems. But online, there is no certain way to connect with them and they are busy sometimes.
A longer time class is another major finding in the research. Students are affected both mentally and physically due to the long-time classes with devices.
On the other hand, it has been found that teachers are trying to cope with systems and support their students as much as they can, both online and offline. They found their students are not comfortable during online classes and it is not easy to hold their attention to the end similar to the physical class.
From the perceptions of parents, they mentioned the lack of teachers’ and students’ communication. Also, the parent’s lack of giving time to their children at home is also noticeable. Due to covid 19, the parents are mostly busy.

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4. Recommendations

Based on the findings, we have come up with some recommendations to overcome the obstacles in the online education system in our country.

To ensure better engagement between the teachers and students in the class, a unified strategy is required. The strategy should focus on communication between teachers and students, their mental health, provide the information and support to adapt to new systems.
A long-time class with little gap causes mental pressure on students’ classes. A longer time on the device causes eye problems and headaches. It distracts them to continue the class with enough

concentration until the end. Reducing the use of devices and class time is necessary.

Another most important recommendation is that the government should provide training to teachers on technology-based skills and knowledge during the COVID-19. They should be guided to be self-regulated and self-motivated too.
Besides, parents should take care of their children supporting them mentally and giving them enough time.

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5. Solution and Design

As the concept of online education is still new, these challenges are rising and it is to be expected. However, this paper finds some probable solutions through which some of these issues can be solved or reduced. Based on recommendations, there should be solutions to the current situations.

Guideline for teachers
Teachers Training
Reduce Screen time in classes
Necessary Steps for practical and field-based subjects
Library Support for students and teachers
Raise awareness through Video and social campaigns
Parents’ awareness

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Web-based platform for Teachers and Students

Based on the above recommendations, we can propose a web-based platform for teachers, universities, and students. The platform will be named ‘E.Future’. The platform will have some key features proposed as solutions to the current problems during covid-19. It will track time for class, show popup notifications to reduce device screen for health-conscious. To reduce the communication gap, students and teachers can collaborate anytime.We are focusing on the features and showing them all on the website.

T-tracker:
Collaboration tool
Teachers Training
Guideline for teacher and student
Language change option

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Initial Platform Paper sketch and brief of sitemap

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Wireframe sketching

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Initial Platform design

Due to shortage of time, I created a landing page describing all the features of the platform to perform the testing so that it can be unstandable how this solution will be validate to maintaining the quality of online education.

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Registration Page

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Landing page design describing the features with each sections

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6. Testing and Iteration

The testing was conducted with users directly through zoom meetings or google meet which are known as remote moderate testing.
We had taken the interviews from 5 users of students and teachers. Our users operate the initial model of the web-based platform.
In the testing, we check if the web platform and its feature are efficient, effective, learnable, satisfactory and accessible to the users. It has opened a chance to improve the platform with new solutions to reach the final goal.

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From the user feedback, it is found that most of the user finds the web

platform and its features useful and usable.

We also find that some of them mention text readability problems due to light color. They mention adding an offline class record feature in the platform after classes.
Some of them also tell for adding a demo video guide for new users and for creating an option for registration free use into the platform.
As a feature, library support is highlighted
They also prefer mobile-friendly, colorful icons and some animation icons or video, real human-based images for enjoyable visual presentation.

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Based on findings, we make some changes with text readability, adding images, a demo video guide, and some gradient colors to the website.
The results then show more positive feelings from the users.
Some features like the book a demo option, library support, the offline class record, and visual presentation of colorful icons and animation, we will evaluate later gradually.

Based on the findings, we make some changes on the landing page.

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The website after the changes is as follows:

Home Section
Add a real image and focus on the main features

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How we work Section
Add a video guide for users

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T-tracker features

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Collaborate Section

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-Online Training Section

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Download Guideline Section

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- Mobile-friendly Application and download Option

- Footer Section

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7. Key Takeaways

Impact:

The web platform makes our 70% users feel comfortable to meet their needs to how they can get a way to collaborate with both students and teachers.
According to the teacher, he/she feels if this type of application will reduce their communication gap with students. and reduce the students dropdown in universities
In business, it will create an interest and opportunity for potential users to use the platform as an integration.

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Participant’s limitation: The research is limited to the higher studied students and teachers from public and private universities in Bangladesh. Before gathering data for the interviews, the research objectives were told to the respondent. We also guaranteed the confidentiality of their information. But due to universities protocol, lack of references, personal and other issues, teachers and parents do not participate in the interviews.

Area and Communication: Due to covid 19. Participants are restricted to a limited area. Most are from urban areas. The interview conversation is also limited over mobile phone and zoom platforms.

Web platform and my learning: I learned that the first ideas for the platform are only the beginning of the process. Usability studies and peer feedback influenced each iteration of this designs.

Design limitation: Due to shortage of time, the full platform was not build. Design the landing page focusing all the features to test and iterate. Also, this is my first project using Figma software.

Challenges & Learning