RESEARCH REPORT

The Research Report is a detailed narrative that outlines our team’s research to understand and reframe the challenges of the existing course selection system at South Fayette High School.

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The Problem

The Program of Study (PS) has valuable information, but it’s underutilized by students.

The PS is created by teachers, counselors, and admin. It is the official repository of course information, such as titles, descriptions, and prerequisites. It also intends to communicate information about courses to students and parents. However, in a sample of 17 students intercepted during lunch periods, 11 of them said they were not aware of the PS.

While students appreciate the choices available to them, the current form of the course catalog makes the variety a burden.

Even if students do read the PS, they are overwhelmed by 100+ of pages of dense text. Even counselors, who are expert users of the PS, recognize the pain points associated with the density of information. The difficulty of accessing information hinders the ability for students to discover relevant courses and explore their interests.

Jobs to be done

Counselor

I want to effectively guide students to make informed decisions that are right for them.

Administrator

I want our students to have a holistic learning experience that prepares them for a changing future.

Student

I want to take advantage of meaningful learning experiences that prepare me for my future.

Teacher

I want to connect with my students by giving them holistic and informed course recommendations that reflect my knowledge of the student and my subject.

findings

Effective educational systems should be dynamic. Not just for a diverse set of users, but for a changing future.

Educational interfaces should inspire human connection.

There is an information gap between students, teachers, and counselors.

Summary of problem space

Current Form

Traditional documented course information discourages exploration and burdens students with choice. Despite its value, channels like the Program of Studies are underused due to their format.

Key Information

Informal channels provide students with a wealth of course-related information beyond official channels.

Diverse Stakeholders

Navigating course selection involves diverse stakeholders with interconnected needs: students, teachers, counselors, parents, administrators, and external influences like colleges.

A Changing Future

The education that students receive should reflect the future they are preparing for, and schools need support in doing so.

Given what we know...

Our solution should not just reinforce the current system more efficiently. How can we create something that supports the positive aspects of this environment while reinventing the rest?

See OUR design SOLUTION