People Design Business
Optimising RyeCatcher for Mobile
problem space
Translating functionality from an existing web application into mobile context. This project entailed close collaboration with the client representing marketing, business and technology goals.
approach
A scenario based approach helped us think about user needs, goals and constraints while developing wireframes.
team
I worked with Emma, Carlie and Matthew, students at Carnegie Mellon University.
organisation
RyeCatcher in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University.
context
RyeCatcher is an application that enables parents and student advocates to build and manage a “circle of support” tailored to a student’s individual needs. It also serves as a tool to connect students with local support providers, and facilitates tracking and monitoring student progress over time. It is used by teachers and other providers
The client provided us with a list of requirements - a set of pages and functionality they wanted built for the mobile version, including the feed, student pages, notes and trackers.
snapshot of the whole process
Initial research with RyeCatcher user to understand usage, hurdles, on the go relevant actions
Familiarizing ourselves with the web app,
Creating site map
Current landscape
Fleshing requirements with current usage
Listing features to be included / excluded in the mobile version.
3 distinct scenarios to think about wireframes, covering all requirements
Sketches of wireframes with 2 goals:
- Keep it simple
- Translate data into meaningful information
Imagining what might be
Feedback and critique session with client - change in approach toward the application
Creation of wireframes for new scenarios, reflecting changed approach.
Evaluative research with RyeCatcher user
Synthesis of key findings and creation of opportunity matrix to prioritise our actionables
Presentation and critique session with client
Revision based on feedback
Annotated wireframes and information architecture for development team
Creating and testing
Iteration
wireframe mockup of the i-pad app
In this project, we followed a converge, diverge process for team and individual work: coming together for key decisions, then branching to work individually, then coming together to show our work and decide next steps.
One of the pages I worked on is shown below: the individual student landing page, that remarkably changed the existing page, making it less overwhelming and more actionable.
before
after
7 tabs reduced to a single page by -
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Changing layout
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Bringing high level information above the fold
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Removing functionality more apt for desktop
Bringing plans to the front, and adding graphs that enable quick read of the progress
Reduced hierarchy for feed - a rarely viewed feature by users, and was very extensive
A look at the defining moments below
initial research gave guiding principles
Early in the research process we spoke to Steven Lam, a California public school teacher, who told us about his life as a teacher and how he used Ryecatcher.
What we heard: Teachers are extremely busy, with several activities beyond teaching in class. They think of time in 2 minute chunks
What we took away: Teachers need a way to quickly finish the task and get the information they are looking for
What it meant for design:
1. Our design should ensure 3 click completion of most tasks,
2. Lean/stripped functionality - Have only what is essential on screen, with an option to view and do everything
a scenario based approach
Early on, we decided as a team, to anchor our wireframe sketches to specific use cases that touched upon all the requirements . This would allow us to think about our user's needs and goal for accessing particular pages. We decided on specific tasks for each team member.
While another team member wrote the stories, I evaluated selected pages of the existing web application to see functionality and features that need to be included, added, excluded and lowered in hierarchy for the mobile version.
We then came together to share our individual work. Based on this shared understanding, we finalised the pages that communicated our approach. Few of my rough sketches below:
client feedback
change in approach
RyeCatcher is a tool used by teachers to identify and monitor students that make trouble
During feedback, we realised we had subconsciously regarded this tool as a way to identify and monitor the "problem child". Key takeaways from this session were
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Think of the tool as an “enabler” for the student. We providers are taking ownership for the student's success. We ask ourselves - what is being done and what can be done for this student.
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Lean is good, but the current functionality expects teachers to come back and fill fields which they will not.
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Help user prioritise, show them whats on fire / what they need to attend to
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Data analysis to show meaningful information was highly appreciated
HOW MIGHT WE
use data tracking to show what we are doing about the problem?" - Arthi
RyeCatcher is about relationships - establishing, growing, and repairing relationships
evaluative research
We created 2 new scenarios to reflect the understanding from the client feedback. We then proceeded to creation of wireframes for evaluative testing with RyeCatcher user
For evaluative research of the wireframes, we created a script that ran our user through the two new scenarios with the intention to get reactions on page organisation, new features and visual elements.
The first scenario started on the feed page and was workflow driven. We internalised Arthi’s feedback about teachers only having 2-minute chunks of time by developing a real-time
process for updating, editing and taking attendance for upcoming events. Our note removed / minimised the need to type, adding the ability to tap and smart search
The second scenario was focused on tracking a student’s progress through easy-to-view snapshots on the student page to drive a more informed story about the student’s growth. This was accomplished by changing the page layout and bringing all the high-level information above the fold, allowing the user to click-in if they want more in-depth information. Subtle changes like renaming "watch list" to starred students was done to encourage thinking differently about these students
findings and synthesis
Below are the themes that emerged from evaluative research. After plotting key findings on an opportunity matrix, we decided what to highlight, tweak and exclude.
5 key takeaways
to view the evaluative research presentation click here
annotated wireframes and information architecture
Finally, we created annotated wireframes for the development team of RyeCatcher and updated the information architecture that had been evolving through our entire journey.
few hi-fidelity wireframes
