Problem Statement
Students struggle to track assignments and feedback, access organized course materials, and managed submissions efficiently.
Solution Statement
A dashboard that enables students to manage assignments, access feedback, and stay on top of their course activities. The redesign is based on the following design principle: simple, unified, and clean.
Objective & Goals
INTRO
How does the new solution support students with their success?
IMPACT
01
All-in-one
Dashboard View
Simplifies assignment submission and easy deadline tracking. This module lets students view assignments in board, timeline, or list formats, providing a simpler and more flexible way to navigate and manage them.
3
To Do
2
In Progress
4
Completed
* Assignments are organized into
three categories: "To Do," "In
Progress," and "Completed."
* The assignment card shows key information
and displays full details when you hover over it.
12/13/2024 11:59PM
All images should be rendered using RedShift. This is flexible but there has to be a good reason not to.
There are no limitations on the style or...
VCDE 617
Last 5 Prompts
* Highlight the dates and information
that need attention.
November 4, 2024
Monday
2
New Grades Available
3
Assignment Due Soon
1
New Messages
Due in 2 Days
* Deadline Alerts: Notifies you of assignments
with approaching deadlines.
* List View provides a dynamic overview of all assignments for the semester, including a quick way to see if grades and feedback are available.
Board
Timeline
List
Sort
Switch between different views.
Normal
Medium
High
* Set priority for each
assignments.
Drag and Drop
Assignment Management
Drag and drop assignment files directly onto the dashboard. This module lets students make changes to meet submission requirements, such as manually assigning the uploaded content to the correct course and specific assignment.
02
42%
CompleteAnimatic_110424 .mp4
10.7 MB
Drop your file(s) here
Drag, Drop, and Assign
Drag and drop directly to the main dashboard.
Use the dropdown menu to assign the correct course and specific assignment, which directly submits your work.
* View assignment upload progress.
* Begin typing to search for courses and assignments, then assign them to the
correct one to submit.
Type to Assign...
VCDE
VCDE 742
4 Projects
VCDE 737
6 Projects
VCDE 617
2 Projects
VCDE 636
3 Projects
VCDE 790
0 Project
VCDE 737
6 Projects
VCDE 737
Your Flow is a Story
P2 - 2 Design Direction Examples Landing Page
2 Detailed Flows
Week 6 Models and Themes
Link to Survey
Clear Progress
Tracking
Hover over assignment cards to view grades and feedback. This module provides a quick and efficient way to review performance without navigating through multiple pages.
03
Your assignment demonstrates a strong understanding of the topic, with well-researched insights and clear explanations. However, there is room for improvement in the organization of ideas to ensure smoother transitions between sections. Consider revisiting your conclusion to provide a more concise summary of the key points and their implications.
VCDE 737
Grades & Feedback
A-
91/100
B
89/100
Assignment Grade
Overall Grades
Feedback
2 Detailed Flows
VCDE 737
2 Detailed Flows
2+ Images - 1 flow per image but you can have more slides
10/21/2024 2PM
Hover to see details
* See assignment grades alongside
your overall grade to monitor
performance.
* A darker message icon indicates new grades and feedback.
Quantitative Questions (Measurable Responses):
How often do you access course materials through MyCourses?
How satisfied are you with the current process for submitting assignments and receiving feedback on MyCourses?
How well does MyCourses help you track your grades and academic progress?
How satisfied are you with the current organization of course materials (e.g., folders, sections) on MyCourses?
Which statement do you most agree with?
Qualitative Questions (Open-Ended Responses):
Please describe your experience when trying to connect course content between modules (e.g., projects, lectures, quizzes).
How do you typically receive feedback on your assignments?
Describe any difficulties you’ve encountered while navigating the MyCourses platform. How did they affect your use of the system?
What improvements could make the organization of course materials more intuitive or user-friendly for you?
If you could change or add one feature on MyCourses to improve your learning experience, what would it be?
Follow-up: Why do you believe this change or addition would improve your experience on MyCourses?
Survey Questions
What I learn: Users find MyCourses difficult to navigate, grade tracking only moderately effective, and feedback overly dependent on a single section—indicating a need for better navigation, progress tracking, and consistent feedback.
Key Data
What I learn: Students face challenges with inefficient navigation, inconsistent course material organization, and a lack of standardized templates—leading to extra manual effort and reduced usability.
“ It’s really annoying when I have to keep switching between different modules (like when I have to look at the lecture slides and assignment instructions at the same time). ”
“ It won’t automatically open a new tab, so I have to go back and find the material again.”
“I have to manually open a new tab to access the material again.”
“ If they provided a template for professors, it would help a lot.”
“ The image shown on each course tab is not related to the course itself.”
“It takes a few clicks to get to the tabs I was actually looking for.”
“They sometimes get mixed up with other less important pages, such as quizzes, class list, and calendar.”
Key Responses
User Research
Research Method: Questionnaire
Improved Task Management
Stay focused with visible due dates and weekly priorities.
1
Streamlined Navigation
Declutter the interface with customizable features.
2
Enhanced Feedback Process
Deliver feedback with clarity and consistency.
3
Content Integration
Better-integrated course modules for easier access.
4
Content Standardization
Streamlined organization through consistent templates.
5
What needs to be improved?
“Extensive Review and Visualization of User Engagement on the RIT MyCourses Platform.”
RESEARCH
Version #1
Version #2
Version #3
The font size on the left is too large, and the lack of hierarchy makes it unclear where students should focus. Additionally, poor text color contrast affects readability. The design on the right will move forward for the next iteration.
The current design struggles with visual clarity and usability due to titles that fail to stand out, poor text color contrast affecting readability, and tight paragraph spacing that creates a cluttered appearance. Additionally, the lack of clear facilitation and a consistent theme leaves users unsure where to focus or navigate, resulting in a disjointed experience. Addressing these issues with improved hierarchy, accessible text choices, and a cohesive design direction will enhance clarity and user engagement.
The updated design achieves a clearer overall layout with larger icons featuring a thinner weight for modern visual balance, larger body text that enhances accessibility, and lighter background shades that improve contrast and reduce visual fatigue. These changes create a cleaner, more user-friendly interface with improved clarity and readability.
Iteration
Design
“Through multiple iterations, the redesign delivered simpler navigation, stronger progress tracking, and clearer feedback.”
”
“
The RIT myCourses redesign is a transformative effort to streamline navigation, enhance task management, and improve accessibility, creating a platform that truly supports students’ academic journeys. By addressing challenges like cluttered interfaces, inconsistent organization, and lack of visual clarity, I have designed a solution that makes accessing assignments, tracking progress, and managing tasks seamless and efficient.
This redesign not only improves usability but also fosters a more collaborative and engaging learning experience. Through these endeavors, I am committed to creating a supportive academic environment that empowers students to stay organized, boost productivity, and achieve greater success.
Streamlined
Enhanced
Improved
Conclusion