Understanding Student Mobile Practices Through User Research

Would Students Use Mobile bSpace?Understanding Student Mobile Practices Through User Research

Alison Meier, Dave Rolnitzky, Thomas SchluchterUC Berkeley, School of Information

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Current mobile experience

Project Introduction Methods Findings Recommendations


Project Goal

Is it worth developing mobile bSpace?



Research Questions

How do students currently use bSpace?

How do students use mobile technology?

Would students use mobile bSpace?



Methods

Interviews

Online survey



Interviews



Interview Participants

6 undergraduates and 3 graduates

Diversity of departments

5 females, 4 males



Interview Method

Met students in their study environment

Asked students how they study, how they use bSpace, & how they use mobile phones

Observed students using bSpace



Survey



Survey Respondents

Others12%

Humanities8%

Sciences11%

Engineering34%

Business36%

n = 725



Survey Respondents

0 100 200 300 400

5%

54%

n = 726

30%

12%

Undergrads

Grad-Masters

Grad-PhD

Other



Survey Respondents

59%

n = 725

41%malefemale



Findings



How students currently use bSpace

Approximately 75% of survey respondents said they are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their overall experience with bSpace




Central place for resources:

“It just puts everything in just one place... so, that’s pretty good.”

“I wouldn’t know what my homework was if there was no bSpace.”




n = 614 0 125 250 375 500

Announcements

AssignmentsSyllabusGradebookMessagesScheduleTests and QuizzesDrop BoxForumsMy WorkspaceEmail archiveChat RoomDiscussionWikiPollsModulesNews

Resources 78.5%77.9%76.2%64.2%50.3%31.3%19.2%15.3%13.2%12.5%12.2%11.6%9.0%6.5%3.4%2.4%2.1%1.8%




n = 614 0 125 250 375 500

Announcements

AssignmentsSyllabusGradebookMessagesScheduleTests and QuizzesDrop BoxForumsMy WorkspaceEmail archiveChat RoomDiscussionWikiPollsModulesNews

Resources 78.5%77.9%76.2%64.2%50.3%31.3%19.2%15.3%13.2%12.5%12.2%11.6%9.0%6.5%3.4%2.4%2.1%1.8%

Top 5:ResourcesAnnouncementsAssignmentsSyllabusGradebook

Bottom 5:DiscussionWikiPollsModulesNews



How students use mobile technology

Almost all survey respondents have mobile phones

Over half (60%) of survey respondents access the Internet on their mobile phones




42% of survey respondents reported needing information from bSpace when they didn’t have access to a computer within the last week




25% + of survey respondents already accessed bSpace from a mobile device




3% reported that their mobile device was their main mode of accessing bSpace







No! Meh. Yes!



NO!

$ divide

UC resources

Connectivity

"...unfair advantage to those whose financial abilities can provide them with 24/7 bSpace access regardless of their location."



NO!

$ divide

UC resources

Connectivity

“Given the current budget crisis, it would be seriously inefficient to start [the mobile bSpace] program.”



NO!

$ divide

UC resources

Connectivity

“I don't like how distracting mobile technology is, so I limit its impact on my life wherever possible.”



MEH.

Don’t have a smartphone

Not useful for how

I use bSpace

Already have a lot of computer

access

“I don't have a smartphone, so it seems pointless to me.”



MEH.


Not useful for how

I use bSpace


access

“I don't need it. I usually need it to access documents to print or read and smartphones can't do this and are too small”



MEH.


Not useful for how

I use bSpace


access

I do not think that this would be useful because when you are on campus you are always close to a library which has computers.”



YES!

Access w/o laptop

More mobility

Information anywhere

“I don't carry my computer to class because it is too heavy, but I always have my phone.”



YES!

Access w/o laptop

More mobility


“Too many occasions where I want to access educational materials on the go, but am unable to do so currently (in an efficient manner) unless I get to a laptop.”



YES!

Access w/o laptop

More mobility


“It would be nice to look at the phone and see ‘Oh, what do I have to read this week?’’’



MOREYES!

Better communication

“It would be a great idea, as sometimes people need access to up to the minute announcements about classes”Better usability

“It would be a great idea, as sometimes people need access to up to the minute announcements about classes”



MOREYES!

Better communication

Better usability

“I currently access the full site from my mobile but must zoom in and out many times for viewing. It would be useful because it’s hard to use the normal bSpace site on a mobile phone”



How students would like to use mobile bSpace

n = 607Respondents would . . .

view course announcements (68%)

view assignments (65%)

access grades (61%)

receive real-time updates and notifications (60%)

links to download articles & other info (53%)Project Introduction Methods Findings Recommendations


How students would not like to use a mobile bSpace

A majority of respondents would never . . .

Take tests and quizzes (60%)

Participate in polls (61%)

Communicate with classmates (73%)

n = 607



Recommendations



Is it worth developing mobile bSpace?



Is it worth developingmobile bSpace?

Yes*Project Introduction Methods Findings Recommendations


*There’s a large enough audience that would find mobile access to bSpace useful

A portion of students are already accessing bSpace on their mobile phones...and it’s not a pleasant experience

Smartphone use is increasing



Things to Consider

Make it lightweight

Prioritize most utilized elements

Optimize these for mobile

Ensure multiple platform support



Download the full report atbit.ly/bspacemobile

Contact: [email protected]



Technology

Understanding Student Mobile Practices Through User Research