Smart People Case Study

Overview
In this 3 day sprint, we were given the challenge to design a digital experience for people who couldn’t attend smart people’s summer camp. The summer camp uses immersion as their main method of teaching because it achieve better results, so I decided to create an App mimicking the summer camp’s methodology. I named the App “Smart People Abroad” and unlike popular learning apps like Duo-lingo, Smart People Abroad would facilitate immersive learning by bringing students together with locals at organized events.

Secondary Research
I was looking up best practices for learning a second language online and I came across Immersion. Immersion learning refers to any education approach that teaches by placing students directly in an environment. This method of teaching has shown the best results. For example, in a group experiment, a classroom was divided in two. One half was taught a second language in a formal classroom setting and the other was trained with Immersion. After five months, both groups retained the language, even though they had not used it at all, and both displayed brain processing similar to that of a native speaker. But only the immersion group displayed the full brain patterns of a native speaker (NYT).

Similarly, GoAbroad, a company helping business, organizations and students join international programs, advises 2 things. To attend events that are in the language of your choice land make friends with someone who speaks that language because it’s the easiest way to learn mannerisms, slang and intonation. 

Qualitative User Research
I interviewed 8 travelers that left the united states to live somewhere else in the world. I met these expats while they traveled through Central America and I have remained in contact ever since. All the quotes seen in my case study are from my interviews with them. I find it interesting how quickly they learned to speak a second language. Most of them didn’t an ounce of it before traveling outside of the united states. Some learned to understand and speak Spanish in less than 6 months. I know people who took Spanish lessons their whole lives and couldn’t retain it. 

Quantitative User Research 
I sent a survey out and posted it in a reddit group about language learning. My survey was completed 31 times and I got some interesting data back. 100% of survey takers had taken classes on a second language in a classroom setting but only 50% of them found them useful. More than half were interested in learning a local language, even if their stay there was for a short period of time.Only 16% found language apps to be useful, 50% thought them to be kinda useful or the rest not useful at all. Although 70% of them were trying to achieve proficiency in a second language, the same percentage felt self-conscious practicing speaking with native speakers. 

Affinity Map
I collected the data from my interviews and survey into an Affinity Map. I organized my information by demographic, habits, gains and pain points.

Top Pains
• Structured Lesson were not effective language learning tools in an app.
• Unable to speak fluently made individuals feel self-conscious, becoming an obstacle to practice speaking.
• It’s difficult finding willing people to have a conversation in their native tongue.

Top Gains
• Learn another culture better.
• Talk to locals like a local.
• Help land a job requiring international work and interaction.

MVP
Embracing immersion as the main method of teaching, Students will be provided with an engaging learning experience, without structured lessons, and connecting Smart People through events and games.

1. Create a local network that connects students with local business, events, native speakers and other “smart people”.

2. Create a calendar to help students get organized and allow other “smart people” to view their events and activities, so they too can join.

3. A simple PVP platform connecting users with games, so they can learn, play and bond.

In order for the abroad program to work, smart people would need to work with Spanish speaking cities to coordinate with local business and leaders and create events that engage students with activities listed on the app. This would benefit local business because abroad programs bring new business to locals and students in return get an immersive learning experience. 

Competitive analysis
After deciding my MVP, I moved on to create a competitor analysis chart. I wanted to know where the smart people app stood compared to competitors. I did a feature analysis chart to see what features were being offered by leading apps. I also wanted to find the blue ocean for smart people in a Market position Map. The blue ocean was located in the midst of personalized, educational and social lessons. All competitors had very structured lessons that didn’t provide any social elements. 

Mid-Fi
From user testing, I learned that icons are a users best friend and implemented a navigation at the bottom of the screen. Doing so will help users navigate the app easier. I gave users the option to log into their profile during any screen of their choice. I also added features that would allow users to view who is going to the event, share the event with others or remind them about the event later. I included a map showing the location of the event the users are attending, which was missing from my lo-fi prototype.