Proposal - Analyzing Problem Space


Proposal - Analyzing Problem Space


Design Process

The design process used for this project is Design Thinking (DT). We referred this website as our main resource to understand DT. The Design Thinking process consists of 6 distinct phases:
  • Empathize
  • Define
  • Ideate
  • Prototype
  • Test
  • Implement

Currently, for the proposal phase we have only completed the Empathize and Define processes. Below is the diagram of our current progress for the proposal phase.





Design Process 1: Empathize

This process is conducted to understand the user. Empathy is crucial to Design Thinking because it allows designers to set aside assumptions about the world and gain insight into users and their needs.

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.




Then, we prompted ChatGPT again to get the correct insight about Lisa Kim. Below is our conversation with AI, which pretended to be Lisa Kim after we truly understand how to prompt it. We acted as the interviewers and AI responded as Lisa:

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."

Additional Questions (10 Nov):

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

From the method used in Empathize process, we were able to deeply understand and gain insights about Lisa Kim. We could identify the problem she is facing, what she wants and what she expects. Then, we visualized this information about Lisa Kim in User Persona  and an Empathy Map.

On 5 November, we began creating the complete User Persona. Below is our first attempt doing User Persona.

Initial User Persona





After consulting with Dr. Mahfuzah regarding our User Persona on 6 November, we realized that we did not really make the user persona correctly. We did not fully refer to our conversation with AI. As a result, we based the User Persona on our assumptions rather than on accurate representation of who Lisa Kim truly is. On 8 November, we discussed again and remake our 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

On 8 November, we also created a problem statement to articulate the problem so everyone can see its dimensions and feel inspired to systematically hunt for suitable solutions. To make problem statement, we referred this website and use simple technique called the 5 Wswhich involves answering the questions below:
  • 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?

Who is affected by the problem?

Lisa Kim, a high school science teacher, and her students are primarily affected by this problem. Her students experience disengagement, while Lisa struggles to balance her responsibilities as a teacher and a mother managing her toddlers.

What is the problem?

The problem is that Lisa finds it challenging to create an engaging and effective virtual learning environment with her current teaching tools. This results in her students feeling disconnected and losing focus, which impacts their learning outcomes.

Where does this problem occur?

The problem occurs in the virtual classroom, where Lisa teaches remotely, often due to her need for flexible scheduling for medical appointments.

When does the problem occur?

The problem arises whenever Lisa needs to hold virtual classes, especially during times she must be away from school, such as during her medical appointments.

Why does the problem occur? Why is the problem important?

The problem occurs because existing virtual learning tools are troublesome, lack sufficient interactive features, and do not support real-time feedback effectively. This is important because it affects student engagement and learning success, which are crucial to Lisa's goals as an educator and her commitment to her students’ academic progress, despite her personal health constraints.

Final Problem Statement

high school science teacher with health needs, often relies on virtual classrooms to balance her medical appointments with her teaching responsibilities. However, existing tools are limited in interactivity and lack effective feedback features which leads her students to feel disconnected and unengaged during virtual classes. This challenge affects user's ability to deliver high-quality education to monitor the user students’ academic progress. As a result, the user needs an intuitive, engaging virtual platform to maintain student focus and foster a collaborative learning environment.

Method used: Task Analysis

The second method we used in order to understand what a user like Lisa Kim do, what tasks she works on and what she needs to know is Task Analysis. Our main reference for method task analysis were here and here. Task analysis method is important because it helps us understand how users interact with a product or service and identifies ways to improve their experience.

For this project, we use the most common variants which is Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA).

Initial Diagrammatic HTA


On 10 November, we  consulted with Dr. Mahfuzah regarding our HTA and identified several mistakes. Specifically, we had not included the scenario, step 1.1 was inaccurate, and steps 3.1 and 3.2 appeared to be redundant. Also, we realized our major mistake when Dr. Mahfuzah explained that HTA should be based on what the user typically does, not what we want them to do. 

As a result, we used ChatGPT to ask additional questions about how Lisa Kim usually complete these tasks. You can find the additional questions under Method used: Synthetic Users in Empathize process.


Final Textual & Diagrammatic HTA


On 12 November, we revised the Textual & Diagrammatic HTA based on ChatGPT's responses.

Textual HTA:


0. In order to create an engaging online lessons with interactive tools:
   1. Set up a virtual classroom with interactive quizzes and polls
      - 1.1 Start video session using preferred virtual classroom apps
      - 1.2 Share session link with students
      - 1.3 Prepare quizzes or polls on any applications in advance
      - 1.4 Share quiz link or code during session
      - 1.5 Guide students to join the quiz platform if needed
      - 1.6 Toggle between video call and quiz interfaces as needed
   2. Share real-time feedback through digital whiteboards and collaboration tools
      - 2.1 Open digital whiteboard in the virtual classroom apps or a separate tool
      - 2.2 Use screen sharing to display whiteboard to students
      - 2.3 Write comments and explanations on the whiteboard during lesson
      - 2.4 Provide feedback in chat or verbally, as needed
      - 2.5 Address specific student questions and add individual comments when possible
   3. Monitor student participation and provide feedback during lessons
      - 3.1 Encourage participation through chat and "raise hand" features
      - 3.2 Ask questions to gauge student engagement and understanding
      - 3.3 Use quizzes to assess student understanding in real-time
      - 3.4 Give verbal feedback to motivate and guide students
   4. Create breakout groups for discussions and collaborative activities
      - 4.1 Use breakout room feature in the virtual classroom apps
      - 4.2 Assign students to different breakout rooms
      - 4.3 Move between breakout rooms to monitor discussions and answer questions
      - 4.4 Rejoin the main group session to debrief and discuss outcomes

...Plans

- Plan 0: Do steps 1 through 4 in sequence to manage an engaging virtual classroom.
- Plan 1: Within 1, follow steps 1.1 to 1.6 in order.
- Plan 2: Within 2, perform steps 2.1 to 2.5 in sequence as needed.
- Plan 3: Within 3, use any of 3.1 to 3.4 depending on engagement needs.
- Plan 4: Within 4, perform steps 4.1 to 4.4 in order to facilitate group activities.

Diagrammatic HTA:



Hence, after understanding how users interact with the virtual classroom they typically used, we can propose solutions to improve the user experience. You can read our proposed solution in summary section below.




SUMMARY

Problem Statement

            A high school science teacher with health needs, often relies on virtual classrooms to balance her medical appointments with her teaching responsibilities. However, existing tools are limited in interactivity and lack effective feedback features which leads her students to feel disconnected and unengaged during virtual classes. This challenge affects user's ability to deliver high-quality education to monitor the user students’ academic progress. As a result, the user needs an intuitive, engaging virtual platform to maintain student focus and foster a collaborative learning environment.
                    

Proposed Solution

             A user-friendly, interactive virtual classroom platform will be tailored to integrate engaging features like digital whiteboards, real-time quizzes, and screen sharing to create an immersive live classroom environment. Breakout rooms and group workspaces foster collaboration and active student participation, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and disengagement.

                To ensure effective feedback, the platform will include an assignment submission portal where users can provide detailed, personalized comments and grades, allowing students to understand their progress more clearly. Additionally, an engagement-tracking dashboard offers real-time insights into each student’s activity and participation, enabling  identification and support to those who need extra help.



Project Planning-Analyzing Problem Space




Tools Used




  • Canva
We used Canva to design User Persona, Empathy Map and Design Thinking diagram.

  • Draw.Io
We used Draw.Io to create Diagrammatic HTA.


  • Figma
We will use Figma to develop the project.


  • Pinterest
We used Pinterest to find interesting colour palette for the design.

  • Excel
We used Excel for project planning.



We have now completed the Empathize and Define processes. Our next post will focus on the Ideation process. Stay tuned! ;)

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