Proposal - Analyzing Problem Space
Proposal - Analyzing Problem Space
Design Process
- Empathize
- Define
- Ideate
- Prototype
- Test
- Implement
Design Process 1: Empathize
Method used: Synthetic User
A synthetic user is an AI-driven virtual entity used to simulate user interactions with a system, application, or website. By using AI to prompt actions, synthetic users can mimic real user behaviors, allowing us to test various features, workflows, or scenarios in a controlled environment. This approach is especially helpful, as we were unable to find a high school science teacher to observe at UUM. Thus, this method provides a valuable opportunity to better understand Lisa Kim, helping us to address her challenges effectively.
Our first attempt to prompt the AI to pretend to be Lisa Kim was during the lab class on 23 October. Below are the picture of our initial draft outlining what we needed to prompt to ChatGPT.
However, during class on 3 November, Dr. Mahfuzah showed us the correct way of prompting ChatGPT through this website. Then we realized that our way of prompting ChatGPT earlier is incorrect.
Interviewer: "May i know why you need to do virtual classroom? Why don't you teach the class during class hours at school?"
Lisa: "The main reason I need to conduct virtual classes is because of my health. I have anemia, and it requires me to visit the doctor regularly to manage my condition. Sometimes, these appointments fall during school hours, and I can't be there in person to teach my students.
I don’t want my students to miss out or fall behind in their science lessons because of my health needs. That’s why I decided to hold virtual replacement classes. This way, even if I’m not physically in the classroom, I can still connect with them, continue their learning, and make sure they have the support they need to succeed.
The challenge, though, is that the current learning apps I’m using aren’t as engaging as I’d like them to be. The tools can feel a bit clunky, and I notice my students often struggle to stay focused. I want an app that makes the virtual classroom experience smoother, keeps my students actively engaged, and makes them feel like they’re part of the lesson – even when I can’t be there face-to-face."
Interviewer: "What motivates you to put your best into virtual classroom teaching?"
Lisa:"I want my students to succeed, no matter the format of the class. That’s always my biggest motivation. I’m motivated by my commitment to provide a high-quality education, even when I have to adapt it to an online format due to my health needs. Lastly, I’m driven by the desire to make learning enjoyable and accessible for my students, so they stay engaged and connected, even remotely."
Interviewer: "Lisa, what are your primary goals when using virtual classroom applications?"
Lisa: "I want to create a space where my students feel connected and actively engaged, even when we can’t be together in person. I also aim to make the virtual experience as seamless as possible so students can focus on learning rather than dealing with technical frustrations. Another goal is to have tools that allow me to monitor student participation easily and give them real-time feedback, which helps me keep them motivated and on track."
Interviewer: "What are some of your frustrations with the current virtual classroom applications you use?"
Lisa: "One major frustration is the lack of integration; I have to jump between different apps for video, quizzes, and feedback, which disrupts the flow of the class. It’s also difficult to keep track of each student's engagement level. The tools I currently use don’t make it easy to monitor or encourage participation. Finally, I feel the current apps don’t provide enough control over classroom dynamics, like managing group work or tracking individual contributions during breakout sessions."
Interviewer: "Currently you are 40 years old. Are there any technology limitations you experience, and is there anything you dislike about current virtual classroom apps?"
Lisa: "Yes, there are some limitations. As someone who didn’t grow up with these technologies, adapting to constant updates and learning new features can be challenging. I sometimes struggle with the need to navigate between multiple platforms for different tasks—like video conferencing, quizzes, and providing feedback—which can disrupt the lesson flow. I’d much prefer a unified, intuitive platform that’s easy to use for both myself and my students.
Interviewer: "How do you perceive an ideal virtual classroom experience?"
Lisa: "An ideal virtual classroom would be intuitive, with all the essential tools in one place so that it feels natural to use. It should foster interaction, keep students focused, and help build a learning community that feels as close to an in-person experience as possible. I want my students to feel comfortable, engaged, and eager to participate."
Interviewer: "In your opinion, what should virtual classroom apps focus on to better support teachers and students?"
Lisa: "The focus should be on usability and engagement. Features like real-time feedback, intuitive interaction tools, and easy access to breakout groups would help immensely. Apps should also allow teachers to easily track and respond to individual students’ needs, so no one feels left out."
Interviewer: “Lisa, how do you keep track of your virtual classroom resources, tasks, and lesson materials, especially with your busy schedule?”
Lisa: "It’s definitely a lot to manage, so I rely on both digital and physical notes. I keep a detailed checklist on my laptop with reminders about what materials to share, what quizzes to prepare, and the timing for each part of the lesson. I also have my ‘go-to’ setup saved on my platform with settings for breakout rooms, polls, and whiteboard tools so I don’t have to rebuild the classroom environment every time. This setup keeps me from forgetting steps, especially on days when I’m balancing doctor appointments and lesson planning."
Interviewer: “What strategies do you use to make sure your virtual instructions are clear and engaging?”
Lisa: "Clear instructions are even more crucial online, so I always use visuals to complement what I’m saying—like a step-by-step guide or a quick visual summary at the start of each class. I also break down my lessons into smaller segments and verbally check in with the class. Instead of just talking at them, I ask questions, use prompts to keep everyone engaged, and adjust my pacing based on their responses. In a virtual setting, I think it’s especially important to keep the tone interactive and avoid lengthy lectures."
Interviewer: “How do you handle technical issues or disruptions in your virtual classroom?”
Lisa: "When technical issues come up, I quickly switch to backup plans. For instance, if Kahoot or Quizizz is slow or not loading properly, I’ll pivot to Google Forms or a simple group discussion in Google Meet. I also prepare alternative materials, like PDF worksheets I can share directly through Google Drive if needed. This way, even if tech issues happen, my students aren’t left waiting. Having these options ready really helps to keep the class going smoothly, despite any interruptions."
Interviewer: "What do you feel the need to improve your online teaching experience?"
Lisa: "I need an app that’s intuitive and simple to use, both for me and my students. I’d love something that supports real-time feedback, allows me to easily set up interactive quizzes and polls, and has features for group work, like breakout rooms. Since my home can be noisy at times, a noise-canceling feature would also be fantastic. Overall, I’m looking for a tool that lets me focus on teaching rather than troubleshooting or navigating complicated steps."
Interviewer: "Lisa, if you could design the perfect virtual classroom app, what features would it have?"
Lisa: "In my ideal virtual classroom app, everything would be integrated in one place. I’d love to have seamless video conferencing with built-in interactive tools like quizzes, polls, and breakout rooms. Setting up these features should be quick and intuitive, without needing to switch between multiple platforms like Google Meet, Quizizz, and Kahoot.
The app should also have real-time feedback options—maybe a digital whiteboard and chat where I can interact with students directly on the screen and monitor their responses instantly. A noise-canceling feature would be a huge help too, especially when I’m working from home and need to focus.
Finally, it would have a dashboard that tracks each student’s progress and engagement over time, allowing me to easily spot anyone who needs extra support. I want an app that supports my teaching, doesn’t add to my workload, and genuinely makes learning enjoyable for my students. That’s the kind of tool I’d love to work with every day."
Interviewer: "Lisa, what device would you prefer to use, and what do you think is the best device to make virtual classrooms more effective?"
Lisa: "I prefer to use a laptop for virtual classes because it offers the versatility I need—switching between applications, sharing screens, and organizing resources. A laptop with a large screen, high-quality camera, and strong audio capabilities would be ideal. For the best virtual classroom experience, though, I think a tablet with a stylus, like an iPad Pro, would also be excellent. It allows me to write directly on the screen, making explanations and annotations more intuitive for my students. Having both options would give me flexibility to choose depending on the activity, whether it's interactive teaching or managing class resources."
Interviewer: "How do you usually set up a virtual classroom with interactive quizzes and polls?"
Lisa: "I start by setting up the video session on Webex or Google Meet and sharing the link with my students. Then, I prepare quizzes and polls on Quizziz or Kahoot in advance so that I can quickly share the quiz link or code when it’s time. Since these are separate apps, I have to toggle back and forth between the video call and quiz interface, which can be a bit cumbersome. Sometimes, I need to explain to my students how to join, which takes up class time. Ideally, I’d like it if everything could be in one place, to save time and reduce confusion."
Interviewer: "How do you share real-time feedback through digital whiteboards and collaboration tools?"
Lisa: "For real-time feedback, I use a digital whiteboard feature built into Google Meet or a separate whiteboard tool that I share through screen-sharing. I’ll write comments and explanations as students work through questions, but this method isn’t always interactive. Sometimes, if a student needs individual feedback, I’ll have to type it in the chat or address it verbally, which doesn’t always reach them as well as I’d like. I wish there were an easier way to give quick, private feedback in real time that feels more personalized."
Interviewer: "How do you monitor student participation and provide feedback during lessons?"
Lisa: "Monitoring participation is challenging. I try to gauge engagement by asking questions and encouraging students to use the chat or raise hands, but it’s hard to tell if everyone’s paying attention. I also use quizzes as a way to track their understanding, and I’ll give verbal feedback on their answers to encourage participation. However, with the limitations of these tools, I find it difficult to keep everyone focused and engaged, especially in a virtual setting where students can feel isolated."
Interviewer: "How do you create breakout groups for discussions and collaborative activities?"
Lisa: "I’ve tried using the breakout room feature in Google Meet and Webex to facilitate group discussions. I assign students to different rooms for group tasks, but it’s challenging to monitor each group effectively. Jumping between rooms to answer questions or provide guidance takes time, and I often can’t keep track of everyone’s progress. Plus, switching back to the main group session can disrupt the flow. An ideal app would make it easier to oversee all groups at once and let me move between them smoothly."
Design Process 2: Define
Initial User Persona
Final User Persona
We also created an empathy map to help us step into the shoes of our user and understand how she thinks, feels, and act.
Empathy Map
Hence, we can say that creating User Persona and Empathy map helped us understand Lisa Kim more effectively.
Method used: Problem Statement
- Who is affected by the problem?
- What is the problem?
- Where does this problem occur?
- When does the problem occur?
- Why does the problem occur? Why is the problem important?
Final Problem Statement
Method used: Task Analysis
For this project, we use the most common variants which is Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA).
Initial Diagrammatic HTA
Final Textual & Diagrammatic HTA
Textual HTA:
Diagrammatic HTA:
SUMMARY
Problem Statement
Proposed Solution
- Canva
- Draw.Io
- Figma
- Excel
.png)



.png)
%20(2).png)








.png)
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment