Context

Primary Social Setting:

The primary location that we envision our app to be used in is a large lecture hall. Our goal is to develop an app that would allow students to be connected in a classroom setting. We believe that having social interactions in a classroom setting promotes learning and also makes lectures a more enjoyable experience.

As students ourselves, we have all had moments where we were lost in class or wish we had friends whom we could talk to in class or partner with in the class. Some lecture halls could be so big that it is hard to notice or even realize that your friends are in the class until weeks into the quarter or semester.

Use Scenarios

1) Who is in my class?

"You're in this class?"

It's week eight and you are shocked by the fact that you bumped into one of your friends for the first time in a given class. The minute you enter in a large lecture hall, you are often surrounded by many unfamiliar faces. As you desperately scan left and right to look for your friends, you give up on hope and quickly take the first open seat.

Find My Classmates would allow users to see if any of their social media connected friends are currently in the same class. It features an online/offline status which indicates whether or not students are physically attending lectures. While students are present, friends can view status updates, locations, plan after-class sessions, and locate their friends in order to sit together during lecture.

In a classroom as big as the one pictured above, faces can be lost in a sea of people.

Students may find it difficult to ask strangers or go to office hours for help, especially when the topic has zoomed by.

2) Confused in Class?

"I need some notes." "What did the professor say again?"

It's your junior year and the majority of your classes are core major class. You really want to focus and do well. The professor finishes discussing a topic that you seem to not completely understand. You don't have enough courage to ask a nearby "stranger" classmate and sit confused.

Sometimes, you miss a class that is not podcasted and need notes to catch up. However, you are not sure who to ask because you are not "friends" with any of your nearby classmates.

Find My Classmate's status feature allows users to set their status to "Confused" (As well as many other statuses). This allows friends in your lecture to see that you need help and message you to help clear up any misunderstandings about a topic.

3) No Plans Afterclass?

"It's Taco Tuesday!"

You have some free time after class, so you decide to treat yourself after pulling an all nighter on Monday. However, all of your close friends are busy in other classes and you might have to end up going alone. It would be nice to be able to grab a bite with a classmate.

Find My Classmates allows users to set an "after-class" status as well. One option is the "Get Food After Class" status where friends can see whose available to grab tacos after class and quickly message them. This could also help promote learning and social experience because friends could discuss the lecture that just happened or foster relationships with friends they were not close to before.

After a long lecture, it would be nice to unwind and grab coffee with a friend.

Forming groups for team projects is one of the most difficult things to do and group members could often be the deciding factor on the grade you receive.

4) Need a study/project group?

"It's syllabus day!"

The professor is going over the grade distribution on the first day of class and announces that there will be a huge group project worth 50% percentage of your grade. You start panicking and wondering as to how you are going to find yourself a group.

Find My Classmates allows user to check if their friends are scattered around the class. You can quickly message a couple of friends to form yourself a trustworthy, productive group for the project (In reality, people prefer working with someone they know rather than messaging strangers on Piazza). You can also just form a study group for exams by setting your status to "Looking for a group" so that other friends couple see and message you as well.

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