What are the ‘must-have’ features in an app if your objective is to design one to make science learning easier for High School students?

Here are the results of running the same activity (A Feature Wall) with my graduate students and high school students.

Carly Burton, a UX designer from META, recently visited my Teachers College, Columbia University class where I teach design thinking to graduate students interested in the EdTech field. I subsequently ran the exact same activity with my high school design thinking students. Let’s see what happened.

Students were given the following challenge/prompt:

DESIGN A DIGITAL PRODUCT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO MAKE LEARNING SCIENCE EASIER.

Use the criteria below to decide which features you want to keep or dismiss.

MUST HAVE

NICE TO HAVE

FORGET ABOUT IT

Using a DOT VOTE METHODOLOGY the students will decide as a group which features the product will have.

HERE ARE POSSIBLE FEATURES FOR YOUR DIGITAL PROJECT:

NUDGE ME TO LOG IN

VIEW WHAT MY FRIENDS ARE LEARNING

DISCOVER TOPICS

DEFINE MY LEARNING GOAL

SCHEDULE REQUIRED EVALUATIONS

SURFACE OPTIONAL TESTS

INSPIRE ME WITH SIMILAR SUBJECTS

TRACK MY PROGRESS

HELP ME UNDERSTAND MY LEARNING STYLE

MATCH ME WITH SCHOOLS

SUGGEST CAREERS

PUBLISH MY PROFILE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW

GIVE BADGES FOR MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

HELP ME PUBLISH MY OWN LEARNING CONTENT

FEATURE POPULAR LEARNING MODULES

CONTROL MY LEARNING SPEED

SELF CURATE LESSONS

TRACK MY PROGRESS

CONTROL MY LEARNING SPEED

SCHEDULE REQUIRED EVALUATIONS

PLACE A GREEN DOT ON A “MUST HAVE”, A BLUE DOT ON A “NICE TO HAVE”, and A RED DOT ON A “FORGET ABOUT IT”.

Here are the results:

The top 5 features that surfaced with my graduate students were:

The next five features that were voted up were:

The top 5 features that surfaced with my high school students were:

The next five features that were voted up were:

What were the common features that both groups had in common in the top ten features:

Here are some features that an app designed for high school students to learn science should have:

• Track my progress. Students should be able to track their progress as they learn science. This will help them see how they are improving and identify areas where they need more help.
• Control my speed. Students should be able to control the speed at which they learn science. This will allow them to learn at their own pace and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• Help me understand my learning style. Students should be able to identify their learning styles and use this information to find resources that are best suited for them. This will help them learn more effectively.
• Define my learning goal. Students should be able to define their learning goals for science. This will help them stay motivated and focused as they learn.
• Give badges for accomplishments. Students should be able to earn badges for accomplishments in science. This will help them track their progress and feel a sense of accomplishment.
• Discover topics. Students should be able to discover new topics in science. This will help them learn more about the world around them and find new interests.

In addition to these features, the app should also be user-friendly and engaging. It should be easy to use and navigate, and it should be visually appealing. The app should also be interactive, allowing students to participate in activities and games that help them learn science.

The next steps for developing an app designed for high school students to learn science are:

1. Create a prototype. A prototype is a rough draft of the app that can be used to test the app’s features and functionality. This will help you get feedback from students and make changes to the app before it is released.
2. Test the app with students. Once you have a prototype, you can test it with students to get feedback. This will help you identify any problems with the app and make changes before it is released.
3. Release the app. Once the app is ready, you can release it to the App Store or Google Play. This will allow students to download and use the app to learn science.
4. Monitor the app’s usage. Once the app is released, you should monitor its usage to see how students are using it. This will help you identify any areas where the app can be improved.
5. Update the app as needed. As you monitor the app’s usage, you may need to update it to add new features or fix bugs. This will ensure that the app is always up-to-date and meets the needs of students.

FUSION AI generated below from this prompt:

Write a 500-word essay explaining the top 5 features of an app that will help high school students learn science. Focus on how these features will benefit students and provide examples of their usefulness.

The world of science is vast and complex, and it is unsurprising that learning it can be difficult and overwhelming. High school students who are looking to excel in the sciences can benefit from the use of an app. An app specifically designed for high school science learning can provide a variety of features that can make learning easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable.

The first feature of an app for high school science learning is interactive learning. This feature involves the use of interactive quizzes and other activities that allow students to practice and learn the material interactively. Through the use of colorful visuals, audio, and animation, the app can help students to better understand the material and become more engaged in the learning process. Additionally, apps can give students the opportunity to practice the material and receive immediate feedback on their performance so they can adjust their approach and practice more effectively.

The second feature is access to a variety of resources. The app should provide students with access to a wealth of educational material, including audio lectures, video tutorials, and written resources. This way, students can access the material they need to learn whatever concepts they are studying. Additionally, students can access these resources outside of the classroom, allowing them to review material and practice whenever they need to.

The third feature is personalization. An app should recognize the individual needs of each student and be able to tailor its content and activities to match. Through the use of adaptive learning, the app can assess a student’s current knowledge and skills and adjust the content and activities accordingly. This way, students can receive more targeted instruction and more efficiently learn the material.

The fourth feature is collaboration. An app should allow students to collaborate with other students, as well as their teachers, on the material. This can be done through discussion boards, chat features, and other tools that allow students to ask questions and receive help from their peers and teachers. Additionally, the app should provide a platform for students to work together on projects and assignments, further cementing their understanding of the material.

The fifth feature is gamification. Gamification is the process of incorporating game-like elements into learning activities in order to motivate students and make learning more enjoyable. An app should make use of this by providing students with challenges, awards, and other rewards that keep them engaged and interested in the material. Additionally, the app should provide students with the opportunity to compete with their peers and strive to achieve