Assignment 3: Emotion Design Probe

Assignment for this two weeks was to improve on the learning experience in lecture theatres which is a nightmare assignment as mentioned by Mr Reddy!

Well true to its proclaimation, our group squeezed and de-juiced our brains for all the possible ideas.

To start off the assignment, our group chose 2 methods to identify the problems that hinder students from having a good learning experience. The approaches that we took are field study and laddering.

For Field study, observation of people taking lesson is done with in the lecture theatre itself.

Laddering is interviewing of participants by questioning them until they can explain no further which is a useful technique to understand the problems and user needs.

Problems:

The research phase concluded and below is the list of problems identified.

1. Availability of power points


2. Duration of the lecture


3. The temperature of the theatre


4. Lecture theatre is too enclosed


5. Tables are too small, problems pulling them out


6. The noise of the doors opening and closing


7. The sound of the buzzer signaling the end of class


8. The distance between one seat to the next

Recommendations:

The improvement of the learning experience will take place in 3 different levels. They are architectural/ambient level, personal level and virtual level.
Architectural Level:

1. An ‘open’ architectural concept


2. Warm colored interior


3. Temperature set at 21 Degrees Celsius


4. Stand alone seats


5. Well oiled doors


6. Breaks after every 45 minutes


7. Melody to replace the buzzer sound

Personal Level:

1. Writing tablet PCs attached to the chair


2. Adjustable angle of elevation for the tablet


3. Cupholder attached to the chair


4. Bagholder compartment on the chair


5. A3 sized writing tablet


6. Chair with adjustable armrest


7. Availability of plug-in headphones

Virtual Level:

The virtual level mainly focus on the software on the tablet PCs. With the PCs, student can take notes and send the notes to a printer or to a database to be retrieved at a later time. The students can also send questions to the lecturer during the lesson. This is helpful for students who do not wish to ask question during the class. It is also useful for lecturers who do not like to be disrupted in the middle of the class as they can choose to answer the question as when they like.

Please click for a full detailed Report or Presentation.

Below are some pictures that I came up with: