Laying out a page with the "Lesson Builder"
Adding an image with the "Bookmarklet"
We designed the interface to work well on an iPad
The process...
More process...
And still more process...
User Testing
trailmix is a tool for curating and consuming rich media for online higher education. This highly functional prototype allows instructors to easily create educational narratives: collections of online resources--videos, images, and text--arranged in a way that allows students to explore topics in a logically ordered way rather than from a list of links. The tool guides instructors through the process of creating logical, cohesive, and attractive lessons that can replace or supplement existing course reading and lectures. Students can access the lessons online (even on an iPad), and experience a guided, unified learning experience.
About trailmix
trailmix addresses many common concerns of instructors and students in online learning environments: lack of student engagement, lack of guidance, and lack of interaction between instructors and students. trailmix leverages the recent abundance of compelling online educational media such as videos and images in order to maintain student interest. At the same time, trailmix provides order and structure to this online content. Rather than wandering through links, students are guided through material embedded in an ordered lesson. In addition, instructors are encouraged to provide context for each piece of media using guiding text snippets. To give students and instructors a way to interact within the tool, there is a place for asking and answering questions alongside the content.
We named this project trailmix to emphasize the key elements of our system: the “trail” that connects learning materials to each other and guides students through the material and the “mix” of different media.
Trailmix was designed and developed by Tanushree Jindal, Alison Meier, Michael Porath, and Jessica Voyek as part of our master's final project from UC Berkeley's School of Information, advised by Brian Carver.
Our process for creating trailmix included user research, competitive analysis, literature review, user interface design, paper prototyping, front-end development using HTML5, Javascript/jQuery, and CSS, back-end development using Google App Engine and our own RESTful API, user testing, and a lot of snacking on trail mix.
Trailmix will be presented at the master's project showcase in Berkeley, California on May 12, 2011.
Tanushree Jindal
Alison Meier
Michael Porath
Jessica VoyekSample Lessons
These sample lessons were made by volunteer instructors from UC Berkeley, Sonoma State University, community organizations, and others.
Introduction to Neuroscience
This lesson introduces you to fundamental concepts of neuroscience.
Contributors: Bradley T. Voytek, PhD
DNA Structure and Function
Contributors: Shachi Katira
From "Collection Types" to "Organizing Systems"
Contributors: Robert J. Glushko, PhD.
Sociology of Drugs: Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens or Psychedelics: stimulate a range of psychic effects. Drugs discussed will be LSD, Mushrooms, and Peyote (mescaline).
Contributors: Sheila Katz, PhD.
Adolescent Relationship Abuse
At the end of this lesson, the learner will better understand the prevalence of Adolescent Relationship Abuse (ARA) and its applications for the clinical setting. The learner will also be introduced to an array of online resources for addressing the issue with his or her clients.
Contributors: Jenny Crawford
The Music of 1967
Contributors: Joel Gentes