MOOSPACE
User research, UI/UX
Description
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Moodle is a learning management system and the central hub used by all Monash students and teachers. While the platform contains essential learning materials and tools, it lacks customisation options and a digital workspace for students and peers to send and receive feedback. As a design team, our task was to redesign Moodle to enhance communication, improve the learning/teaching experience, and rethink how AI can be incorporated.
The task
To design a new system that streamlines communication effectiveness, boosts productivity, and redesigns Moodle to be more personalised for each individual student and teaching staff.
Project coverage
Research, conceptualisation, visualisation, UI/UX design.​
My role​
Research
Concept design
UI/UX design
Software used
Figma
Team member
4 interactive designers
Project duration
8 weeks, 2023
Target audience
Monash University students and teachers
Sectors
Education
Design
​Artificial intelligence
User research and testing
Goals
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To discover what functions of the library website Monash students use the most.
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See whether students are able to successfully navigate the website and complete assigned tasks.
Methods
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Moderated usability testing
Research findings
Through desk research and interviews with Monash students, it was discovered that most students, while acknowledging that it is time-consuming, still preferred to communicate with their teachers through email or third-party communication tools such as Slack. This method can be extremely time-consuming. Although there are discussion boards within the platform, students typically prefer to contact their tutors directly rather than using a public space to post their inquiries.
User pain points
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​The absence of an integrated online feedback system on Moodle leads to a cumbersome process of downloading and uploading assignments for feedback, causing inefficiency and an increased workload
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Written feedback, the current sole feedback type available on Moodle, may not be engaging or effective for certain individuals, resulting in a diminished impact on learning outcomes.
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Not all students receive critical feedback in a positive and effective manner. Educators sometimes need to invest additional time in attempting to personalise feedback for each student, which can be inefficient and impractical.
Solution
MOOSPACE is a free Moodle plugin that provides a workspace for collaborative feedback for students and teachers to engage in joint activities. Using a straightforward quiz, the format of feedback and comments given and received is customised to best suit each individual user, promoting more effective communication and enhancing learning and teaching outcomes.
Design outcomes
Personalised quiz
Both students and teachers participate in a brief selection quiz that assesses their learning or teaching habits. Utilising the responses provided, the system will suggest the style (e.g., critical, encouraging, etc.) and format (e.g., video, text, voice, etc.) of feedback that may best suit each individual. This aids students and teachers in identifying their learning habits and preferences, fostering more effective communication.
Popup window
MOOSPACE has been designed in the format of a popup window. The size of the window can be easily readjusted, enabling users to respond to comments while simultaneously browsing the main Moodle webpage. This streamlined and effective workspace eliminates the need for students to open multiple windows to view assignments.
Notification alert
When the plugin is not actively in use, it is presented as a hovering bar positioned at the bottom of the Moodle webpage. The bar, when new comments are received, will alert the user and display a preview text. This feature ensures that students no longer need to worry about missing messages from teachers and peers.
Collaborative workspace
Students and teachers can effortlessly open new workspaces for various assignments and invite others to collaborate. This eliminates the dependence on third-party platforms such as collaborative tools and email for collaborative work. The central workspace enables students and teachers to engage directly on the Moodle website.
Comment status
Comments and feedback can become overwhelming when a large number of users are working together, leading to missed messages and unanswered questions. MOOSPACE incorporates a marking system that enables users to easily identify whether they have responded to a comment or not.
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A red dot indicates unread new messages.
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An orange dot signifies that messages have been read or answered and are awaiting a response.
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A green dot implies that questions have been resolved.
