LearnScape
Enhance YouTube learning with concise video summaries and automated note-taking using LearnScape Chrome Extension.
Product Experience
Problem Space
Problem Statement
How might we enhance the educational experience on YouTube by reducing time inefficiency and distractions for learners?
Problem Background
Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, the reliance on YouTube for education has significantly increased. However, learners often encounter lengthy videos filled with irrelevant content, leading to a cumbersome and inefficient learning process.
Research Insights
User Pain Points
Our research revealed that learners struggle with long videos and taking notes while studying and are often distracted by irrelevant thumbnails, leading to a lack of focus and inefficient note-taking.
Supporting Data
86.6% of surveyed individuals tend to abandon long educational videos.
90.9% would take notes if there was a faster method.
66.7% are often distracted by unrelated video thumbnails.
Feedback
Our user surveys and observational studies indicated significant issues with the current YouTube learning experience. These insights were crucial in shaping LearnScape's focus on reducing distractions and streamlining the note-taking process
Landing on the Solution
Based on user pain points, we focused on creating features that provide concise video summaries, automated note-taking, and a distraction-free learning environment.
Scenarios
- Before Watching: A user can quickly read the summary to decide if a video is relevant to their needs.
- During Watching: Auto-generated notes are presented alongside the video, allowing the user to follow along without pausing or taking manual notes.
- Learning Mode: When selected, this feature provides an immersive environment that minimizes distractions and presents video content with summaries and notes for easy reference.
Goals
Efficiency: Reduce note-taking time by 50%.
Focus: Increase user-reported focus levels by 60%.
Relevance: Ensure 85% of users find video summaries useful.
User Flows/Mockups
User Stories
- As a student, I need quick access to summaries and notes of educational videos to optimize my study time.
- As a lifelong learner, I want assurance that the content I'm about to watch is relevant, saving me from investing time in non-beneficial content.
- As an online learner, I want a dedicated learning environment on YouTube to maintain high levels of focus without distractions.
Measuring Success
- Usage Metrics: Track engagement with the summaries and notes, time spent with LearnScape vs. standard YouTube, and the ratio of videos watched after viewing summaries.
- User Feedback: Conduct surveys to measure satisfaction and gather qualitative feedback about the learning experience with LearnScape.
- Learning Outcomes: Measure the perceived impact on learning efficiency and retention pre and post implementation of LearnScape.
Future Steps
Further refinement of the summarization and note-taking algorithms to cater to a wider range of educational content.
Potential integration with digital note-taking tools and cloud services for seamless data transfer.
Development of a smart recommendation engine to suggest educational content based on user preferences and learning patterns.
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Syed Nazif Ishrak
Participating in the Co.Lab program while developing LearnScape was an enriching experience, providing valuable insights into user-centric product development and the importance of addressing specific pain points in the e-learning domain.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.