by: BAYEN Hanane, KLICH NourElhouda, EL BOUHALI Adnane
Abstract:
Our project, ‘SynapseS: Easier Access,’ aims to improve the SynapseS calendar, sparked by a set of hypotheses about observed user experience issues.From the outset, we aimed to transform the Synapses platform into a more user-friendly and accessible hub for academic engagement. The main objectives of our project involve facilitating easy access to course details/documents, seamlessly connecting to professors’ informations, and providing easy navigation plans for campus rooms. In this blog, we are going to propose some data gathering methods and analysis to enhance the current SynapseS calendar by integrating direct links for information retrieval. Overall, by starting from our initial hypotheses about the issues users faced, we were able to systematically address and propose solutions to enhance the overall user experience with Synapses.
Case study description
The current SynapsеS, thе engineering school wеbsitе, displays a comprehensive calеndar showcasing essential information for еach coursе, including thе coursе namе, profеssor’s namе, and room numbеr. However, if the student wants to read the description of a course he will need to navigate to another page on SynapseS and search for this course among all other courses and if he want to find the course documents, he will have to go to another website which is eCampus, So, he will need to logout from SynapseS and login in eCampus. In addition, if the student wants to contact a professor, he will have to search on his website manually in google or in Télécom Paris website. The third issue is that first-year students and external professors struggle to easily locate the classrooms. Students resort to using the IP Paris application to find the school’s layout and search for their assigned room. However, professors must rely on asking the reception for directions.
The current user experience presents significant challenges as students must navigate through multiple platforms for essential tasks. Accessing course descriptions on Synapses and searching for course documents on eCampus requires many transitions between different pages, which disrupts the flow of obtaining course information. Furthermore, the need to resort to external searches or visit Telecom Paris’s website for professor information, as well as using the IP Paris application for room plans adds complexity to the user journey.
To illustrate the Synapses website experience before any improvement, we are going to show you the steps that student or an external professor need to take before getting the wanted information:
Collected Data – Methods
In order to verify the correctness of our hypothesis about the issues the user can confront using Synapses, we embraced a comprehensive approach by using both quantitative and qualitative data.
For the quantitative aspect, we distributed surveys to the student promotion group, securing a total of 44 responses that gauged user satisfaction, usability, and preferences. This method enabled us to obtain measurable feedback on the efficiency and effectiveness of Synapses from a broad user base.
To complement these findings, we conducted 15 in-depth interviews with a mix of students and teachers, which offered us profound insights into the day-to-day interactions and behaviors of users with the system. The qualitative data from these one-on-one sessions allowed us to directly observe the system in use within its intended context, thus providing a detailed understanding that could inform our analysis of user patterns and satisfaction levels.
By integrating these methods, we aimed to gather a robust set of data that would not only confirm or deny the hypothesis about the user issues with Synapses but also pave the way for actionable recommendations to improve the overall user experience.
Data analysis – Results
The investigation into Synapses’ user experience highlighted several areas of concern that are impacting users’ interactions with the system. Our data analysis, grounded in both survey responses and interview insights, brought forth the following critical findings:
- Course Material Access:
The survey revealed that a significant 66.1% of users experience difficulty in accessing course materials. This difficulty is not just a minor inconvenience; it reflects a systemic issue where users are required to log out of Synapses and sign into other platforms, disrupting the learning process and causing frustration. Qualitative insights from interviews support this finding, with users expressing their frustrations with having to navigate between different platforms to access their course materials. The demand for an integrated system that streamlines this process was a recurrent theme, highlighting a significant gap in the current user experience.
- Professor Information Access:
Access to professor information elicited mixed responses, with 58.1% of users reporting ease in this area. However, this leaves a notable portion of the user base who find it challenging to access this critical information. Interview insights suggest that while some users find the current system sufficient and they do not need all professor’s information on the timetable, there is a clear opportunity for improvement. For example, suggestions for enhancing the system included making professor email information more readily available within the timetable, which could streamline communication and support academic engagement.
- Room Navigation
Room navigation within the Synapses system was another point of contention. A slight majority of users, 51.7%, reported difficulties in navigating to the correct rooms. Interview insights shed light on the real-world impact of this issue, with students sharing their challenges in locating classrooms particularly at the start of the academic year when they are familiarizing themselves with new schedules and locations and teachers, especially those not based at the telecom faculty, struggling to find their designated teaching areas. These findings underscore the need for a more intuitive and user-friendly navigation solution on campus.
The results derived from the analysis paint a picture of a system with several user experience shortcomings, particularly in areas that are fundamental to the daily academic activities of students. The need for streamlined access to course materials, professor information, and room navigation is evident, and addressing these issues could significantly enhance the overall usability of Synapses.
Insights and Recommendations.
The following section outlines a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing the user experience of the Synapses platform, which is utilized for educational purposes. These recommendations are derived from an analysis of user interaction data and aim to streamline access to course-related information and navigation within the educational institution.
Recommendation 1: Direct Course Information Access
- Objective: To facilitate immediate access to course descriptions and associated documentation directly from the platform’s timetable.
- Action Plan: Implement clickable links within the timetable entries on Synapses. These links should redirect users to a detailed page containing the course description and any related documents.
- Expected Outcome: Users will have seamless and efficient access to course materials without the need to navigate away from the platform, thereby saving time and improving the educational experience.
Recommendation 2: Email Accessibility Enhancement
- Objective: To expedite the process of contacting professors by simplifying the method of obtaining their email addresses.
- Action Plan: Introduce a button adjacent to each professor’s name within the platform interface. Upon clicking this button, the professor’s email address would be copied to the user’s clipboard.
- Expected Outcome: This feature will reduce the steps required to contact professors, encouraging communication and support, and streamlining administrative processes.
Recommendation 3: Room Navigation Assistance
- Objective: To assist users in locating specific rooms within the school’s campus without difficulty.
- Action Plan: Integrate a navigation plan within Synapses, which would be linked to the room numbers listed in the platform. This could include interactive maps or directional assistance.
- Expected Outcome: Users will benefit from reduced confusion and time spent locating rooms, leading to a smoother and more efficient campus experience.
Conclusion:
The implementation of these recommendations is expected to significantly improve the user experience on the Synapses platform by providing direct access to course information, facilitating easier communication with faculty, and assisting with on-campus navigation. The ultimate goal is to create an intuitive, user-friendly environment that supports the academic mission of the institution.
Link to figma prototype :
Link to video :