INFINITY LABS
A learning environment that offers hands-on experience in a remote setting.
The Problem
How might we provide a solution for students who have difficulties attending the laboratories in person
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of university laboratory activities, posing challenges for undergraduate students, especially in subjects like chemistry that rely on lab experiments. The joy of scientific discovery and the connection between knowledge and understanding are best experienced in the lab.
How can we make that happen?
So we brainstormed on creating a learning environment that offers students with hands-on lab experience in a remote setting.
Project Overview
I served as one of the UX researchers throughout the project.
Mentor
Dr. Andrew Miller
Timeline
It took us 8 weeks to complete the research and design of the interface.
Process
Research, Interviews, Surveys, Competitive analysis, Literature Review, Ideation, wireframing, prototyping, User testing, and Evaluation.
Team
The team had
2 UX Researchers &
2 UI Designers
Demographics
Undergraduate students - aged 18 to 24.
For students who find it exceptionally
problematic to learn experiments when they skip a class.
Solution Overview
To enable students to experience hands-on lab experiments, even in the absence of a session or due to unforeseen circumstances, we introduced the concept of hybrid labs.
A web application designed to assist students in conducting lab experiments - INFINITY LABS.
Why this solution?
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Hybrid learning: Prevent student disengagement, maintain interest in lab activities.
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Interactive hybrid labs: Provide remote hands-on experiences.
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Foster authentic learning and collaboration.
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Flexibility of hybrid model: Seamlessly redirect labs for tactile experiences.
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Unique and enriched learning experience fosters love for learning.
DESIGN PROCESS
Breaking down the process
I employed the aforementioned design process, which comprises six crucial steps, to address the problem and achieve an optimal solution. In navigating these steps, a thorough analysis and iterative approach were implemented to ensure the most effective resolution.
Understand: We conducted surveys among undergrad students to gauge the importance of hybrid labs. Selected 3 students for in-depth discussions on the significance of lab sessions.
Research: Performed secondary research, reviewing articles and blogs to enhance our understanding of user needs.
Sketch, Analyze, and Repeat: Brainstormed 52 ideas, utilized storyboarding to visualize concepts.
Design: Created wireframes and prototypes, going through one low-fidelity and two high-fidelity iterations. Finalized a prototype for user testing.
Develop: Based on our testers' feedback, we improved the UI with a few enhancements.
Evaluate: Gathered insights from users, testers, and students to assess the significance of the changes and determine their implementation feasibility.
Understanding the User
Interviews and surveys revealed that some students couldn't attend weekly lab sessions, necessitating rescheduling. To compensate, practical experiences were occasionally substituted with video-based learning, posing challenges for exam preparation.
SURVEY
Survey Questions
1. What are you currently studying and what are the labs in your
curriculum?
2. What is your current mode (offline/online/hybrid) for performing lab
activities at your university/college/school?
3. What does the school/university do if you cannot attend the lab session?
How do you complete the lab activities done in that session?
4. What are the challenges you are facing with respect to the current mode
(offline/online/hybrid) of lab sessions?
5. How do you think your presence virtually impacts your
engagement/participation in the lab?
6. What are the few improvements you would want to implement for
online/offline lab activities? (Labs in general)
7. What are your thoughts on having a hybrid lab setup?
8. On a scale of 1-5 how would you rate the idea of a hybrid lab setup?
9. Will the model we are about to build benefit you? (Give your thoughts)
Survey Completion Flyer
Updates based on the insights from usability testing
Senior Lead
Specializing in desktop and client software with a focus on automation.
"Transitioning to the next screen was easy, indicating that the navigation elements were intuitive and user-friendly."
Proposed Changes : Emphasized clear navigation and user-friendly features.
Senior Engineer
8 years - Automotive and locomotive industry, specializing in Automotive Web UI management
"The guided set-up steps are clear and easy to navigate through the process using the next and previous buttons."
Proposed Changes :
Refine button placements, improve instructional clarity, and streamline processes for enhanced user experience.
We have sent out the survey forms to students using 'Survey Monkey'. We have got responses from students where we have data related to a mixture of hybrid, online and offline laboratory setups.
Interview Summary
Student
Undergraduate, MIT, Female, 19
"Hybrid lab would work well when all activities are appropriately organized."
"Improvements should include providing sufficient equipment and facilities for each lab and ensuring that all experiments are relatable to make them easier to understand"
Student
Undergraduate, KLU, Male, 20
"This might be excellent as we can have interactive sessions offline and online too."
"There should be proper conduct of experiments was absent and added that the experimental results were fabricated as he couldn't perform the activities due to a lack of sufficient practical knowledge in this lab model."
Student
Undergraduate, Unimelb, Female, 19
This concept will be helpful for students who cannot attend the lab in person and who live distant from the university.
"Have an interactive platform to perform the lab experiments and an option is to practice the experiments more than one time."
Analysis and Synthesis
After interviewing Johnson Controls team members, we analyzed findings by categorizing insights. Using affinity mapping, we grouped similar ideas, formed complex solutions, clustered them into themes, and systematized the best elements into comprehensive solutions.
Brainstorming summary
Peer-reviewed articles and blogs
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To gain insights into students engaged in hands-on lab activities within an offline or remote setting, we conducted a thorough examination of research papers, blogs, and articles.
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Our aim was to comprehend the existing literature on this subject.
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We also delved into supplementary blogs and journals, analyzing them to understand the concept of remote learning in labs.
(Koehler, n.d.) - Online simulation labs can be an
effective teaching method. adding to in-person labs, and helps students join remotely to acquire comprehensive knowledge
The
remote learning opportunity restricts the development of students'
practical laboratory capabilities
Key Project Requirements
An interactive and engaging class with a well-organized curriculum, whether online or in-person.
A deeper grasp of what they do by utilizing supporting software, the latest.
Technology and equipment.
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Being able to attend a lab session even if you are not physically present
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Experiment with various methods without any constraints.
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Experiment with an infinite number of trials.
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Ease of access to the equipment
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Instructions on how to conduct experiments
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The instructors provided immediate assistance in clarifying any doubts about the experiments.
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Scheduled timeline and notification for the students to complete experiments
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Play games and quizzes for interactive and in-depth learning.
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A secure environment in which to experiment with any combination of elements or components to create a solution.
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Ease of interacting with the class and clarifying doubts with the instructor while performing lab sessions in a hybrid setup.
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Collaborate with a partner even while connected virtually in a laboratory
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To be able to perform exams and tests at ease with regular practice.
Our Optimal Design
Our initial design sketches included two distinct ideas, both of which were implemented in the project. Following idea approval, we underwent three iterations for low fidelity and two iterations for high fidelity to refine and finalize our designs. This iterative process ensured a comprehensive and polished end result.
Storyboards
Idea 1: Virtual Chemistry Lab Simulator:
Scenario-1
Working on the live experiment with the instructor
Professor Jake initiated an offline lab session, with some students joining remotely. He live-streamed the session using the Virtual Chemistry Lab Simulator, performed the experiment, and guided remote students in setting up apparatus. Students then followed step-by-step instructions to conduct the experiment.
Scenario-2
Student scheduling a doubt session with the instructor
Lee, a chemistry learner utilizes a virtual lab simulator web application for experiments but encounters a query with incorrect readings. To resolve this, he schedules a doubt session with an available professor and gets clarification.
Idea 2: Interactive ChemCubes:
Scenario-1
Performing the experiments with the cubes
Chemistry teacher Peter initiates the experiment, and Sarah, with her application open, connects chemcubes via Bluetooth. Instructions appear on the desktop app, guiding students to have apparatus on each cube for mixing and pouring solutions to observe reactions.
Scenario-2
Student practicing the lab experiments using the interactive cubes
Kim, a chemistry student launches practice sessions using the application to prepare for upcoming tests. The interactive digital cubes guide him through practice experiments on the screen, boosting his confidence to take a practice test afterward.
Design Choice
Develop a full-fledged web application that supports online lab simulation for chemistry labs in a hybrid environment.
Why not the other idea?
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The interactive Chemcubes pose a challenge in terms of cost-effectiveness. Additionally, due to their support for high-end technology, ensuring widespread availability to all students at minimal costs could be challenging.
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The portability of the equipment is also a concern for users/students. Conducting experiments requires carrying both the laptop and the interactive cubes, making it less convenient for them.
Performing experiments virtually with the interactive lab simulation
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Scheduling doubt sessions with the instructors: The feature helps the student to search for an available instructor and schedule a doubt session with them at their convenient times.
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Practice sessions and tests: The students will be able to practice an experiment as many times as they want to by using this module. They will be able to practice the experiment and give the practice tests as well to understand and learn the concepts by testing themselves.
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Accomplishing laboratory exams and tests: The instructor will have the opportunity to conduct tests for the students joining, virtually the same as the in-person students. This module will help the instructor to launch the test, and the student will be able to perform the test experiment using the lab simulation.
How did we make our audience understand our design concept?
Sketching reflection
Through collaborative brainstorming, we generated key ideas and collectively sketched screen designs on paper. These sketches formed the basis for our low-fidelity digital prototype, incorporating valuable insights from our free sketching
Paper Prototype
Low fidelity Designs
We used the "Figma" tool to design multiple screens based on our final paper sketches. These screens showcase essential elements of a lab simulation user experience,
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Live session of a hybrid lab setup
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Practice space for practicing the experiment
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Exam space
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Doubt session(Interact with a professor or chatbot)
Dynamic Prototype
"Our high-fidelity prototype, created with Figma, prioritizes the seamless experience of students conducting lab experiments remotely. The web application is designed for manageability, offering a virtual execution that mimics the in-person feel of the experiments."
How does this actually work?
Wanna Try?!?
Cognitive Walkthrough
"Our team used the Cognitive Walkthrough Usability method to assess how easy our system is for new users (students) to learn. By walking through key tasks and asking questions from the user's perspective, we gained valuable insights into the system's learnability."
To evaluate the user experience through a cognitive walkthrough, our reviewers assessed students' interactions within the interface for interactive lab activities. Key tasks included:
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Joining Live Class and Performing Experiments: Students enter the online class and conduct experiments with the professor using the online lab simulator workspace.
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Practicing the Experiment: After class, students can conveniently practice the experiment using the provided feature.
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Scheduling a Doubt Session During Practice: Students with doubts while practicing experiments can schedule a doubt session.
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Attending a Practical Exam: Using the web application, students can seamlessly perform their practical exams.
Just adding one of the tasks for reference*
Key Task - 1: Joining Live Class and performing experiments:
Analysis Question
Group Description
1. Will users try to achieve the right result?
Yes, students can remotely join lab classes by clicking the live session on the dashboard. They'll access planned experiments, including a live one, which they can launch to actively participate in the class if unable to attend in person.
2. Will users notice
that the correct
action is available?
Yes, the live experiment session is clearly marked for students, signaling the start of the class. They can launch the experiment by hovering over the live session, redirecting them to the live class. Features are displayed with icons and text for easy student access.
3. Will users associate the correct action with the result they’re trying to achieve?
Yes, designed for seamless integration, students can join the live class and conduct experiments as they would in an offline lab. They receive guidance similar to offline sessions and perform experiments in a well-equipped online workspace. Readings and experiment procedures are saved for easy reference.
4. After the action is performed, will users see that progress is made toward the goal?
Yes, students receive notifications that they have joined the live class, that they are using their workspace, and that their readings have been recorded.
Key takeaways from the cognitive walkthrough for essential tasks include:
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Practice Experiments: Students receive interactive step-by-step instructions. To address potential confusion, a "Save" button will be added for recording readings.
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Scheduling Doubt Session: A request form will be introduced for students to seek a doubt session with the professor, providing a solution if a professor is unavailable for an immediate meeting.
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Entering Exam Space: To enhance user clarity, the team discussed adding a "Start Exam" or "Begin Exam" button when students enter the exam space as a team.
Product Evaluation
To assess our dynamic prototype, we got feedback from Information Technology and User Experience Design experts. Their insights helped us identify any issues or areas for improvement in the high-fidelity prototype we created.
We conducted formal testing with four users: two participated in person, and two remotely.
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Participant 1:
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Age: 21
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Gender: Male
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Education: Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering.
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Participant 2:
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Age: 30
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Gender: Male
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Occupation: UI/UX designer in a product company.
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Participation: Remote.
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Participant 3:
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Age: 29
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Gender: Female
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Occupation: Software tester in a multinational company.
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Participant 4:
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Age: 33
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Gender: Male
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Occupation: User Experience Designer.
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Feedback
Participants were impressed with the interactive and creative UI, finding it visually appealing.
They expressed that the online simulation workspace would have been immensely beneficial during their undergraduate studies, especially for remote experiments.
Participants appreciated the interactions during experiments but noted challenges with certain functionalities.
Users acknowledged the potential of the product to help students facing transportation or attendance challenges for in-person lab sessions.
They highlighted the need for clearer instructions, especially regarding the use of tools like the dropper in the practice space.
Users suggested the inclusion of a walkthrough or guide to eliminate confusion and help them understand the next steps.
Concerns were raised about the exam space, with users struggling to differentiate between the "save" and "submit" buttons, leading to confusion.
Challenges
Implementing innovative solutions, like hybrid labs, involves addressing potential challenges. Educators play a crucial role in proactively acknowledging and resolving these hurdles to enhance the effectiveness of hybrid labs and ensure a more inclusive learning experience for all students.
Several potential challenges may arise in developing a solution to facilitate these labs:
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Students may need a device to join the lab online.
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A stable internet connection and access to lab set-up and resources are essential for effective lab participation.
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Ensuring equivalent learning experiences for both in-person and online students poses a challenge in maintaining engagement.
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Students and instructors may require training and time to become familiar with the hybrid model and its tools
Next Steps
and
Conclusion
During our brainstorming session, we explored ways to enhance our product, resulting in the conceptualization of Version 2. We generated several ideas that could be implemented to further improve the product.
Some of the key concepts from Version 2 of the product include:
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Virtual Reality Chemistry Lab for an immersive experience, providing the feeling of being physically present.
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Lab Simulations expanded to diverse subjects like Physics and Mechanics, catering to students from various backgrounds.
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Seamless collaboration between online and offline lab partners for a class-like experience, fostering teamwork in experiments and research.
What did I learn?
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Focusing on simplicity, always had multiple solutions for challenges. Using the what-if approach for problem-solving, we brought our sketches to life digitally and experimented with features to enhance user appeal.
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The process improved our communication, storytelling, and problem-solving skills as a team.
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Discussing ideas during the design phase was enjoyable, and the project provided insights into addressing real-world scenarios with creative solutions, refining our design thinking skills.
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Overall, it was a new and rewarding challenge.
