Optimizing Education: A UX Case Study in Enhancing the EdTech

Siolabs is a platform that provides open online courses for Machine Learning, Data Science and Coding Interview preparation.

The increasing adoption of machine learning technology across various data-intensive industries has led to a surge in demand for skilled data scientists. However, there exists a significant gap between the theoretical knowledge provided by surface-level education and the practical skills required for real-world projects.

This digital platform offers users the opportunity to acquire Data Science skills and become job-ready for the market.

12 weeks

I was in charge of devising the strategy as well as creating the visual design.

User Research was conducted through interviews with undergraduate students who expressed an interest in Data Science and Machine Learning. Along with students, working professionals who were interested in transitioning into these fields from their current line of work were also interviewed.

Ten potential users were interviewed over a Zoom call to comprehend the difficulties they encounter while searching for resources related to the data science field. Below are some sample questions asked during the interview:

In which semester are you currently? / What kind of work do you do?

Can you describe what your day looks like

Motivation to take the online data science courses?

Have you ever tried to enroll in a course before ?

What challenges do you face when you are searching for resources?

Are there any suggestions that you have that can resolve these issues?

The majority of the interviewed students were either in their final semester or had graduated recently. A noticeable gap exists between what is covered in various certificate programs and the actual interview requirements. While self-paced courses are useful, they often lack the guidance of a mentor and a sense of accountability. Additionally, several working professionals expressed interest in upgrading their skill sets to increase their earning potential.

An online survey was conducted using Google Forms to identify any common patterns or similarities among potential users' needs. A total of 30 responses were collected, which aided in framing the problem accurately.

Following rigorous research that included both interviews and surveys, as well as an analysis of research papers pertaining to student behaviors and patterns, three critical factors that contribute to a satisfactory online learning experience were identified:

Upon completing the design, the next step was to test the prototype with five representatives to evaluate the website's design. Zoom calls were used to conduct interviews, and each participant was assigned specific tasks to perform while the designer observed their navigation through the site.

The participants were able to navigate through the website with relative ease and found the interface to be user-friendly. They provided valuable feedback, which included the following:

Give an option to view cart.

Contact us page should be made more accessible.

Providing a sign up page before checkout.

The suggestions from usability study where considered and following changes were made.