Web Front-end for Public University: Helping Students Broaden their Skills by Supporting Online Cross-Campus Enrollment
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Customer
Kognito, an e-learning company occupying a steady niche in R&D on health, behavior, and social issues, provides 450+ clients across education, government and healthcare industries with its research-proven programs, being the only producer of online and mobile simulations making the list of the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP).
Problem
Being among our long-term clients, Kognito needed a team of specialists well-practiced at building e-learning solutions, having a proven expertise in Unity3D development, as well as a strong command of Windows and web technologies to help them launch Friend2Friend — an interactive web training program for high school students to help them get through challenging discussions with a distressed peer.
Softeq was to deliver a final version of the online conversation simulation app, taking on responsibilities on integration of animations in timeline, implementing gamification strategies, menu and customization of UI, providing the app with additional modes, subsystems, and managing it up to the product release for the end users.
Solution
Engaging users in an interactive role-play through a series of animated online videos, Friend2Friend makes them handle a conversation with a potentially at-risk pal. The solution provides an introduction practical training in line with best-evidence guidelines and surveys on mental health and wellness, building skills in how to approach distressed peers motivating them to ask for support from a trusted adult.
The training experience is complemented with several levels of feedback from peer’s reactions to coaching tips. By the end of the virtual dialogue users are offered to reinforce the learning by taking a course survey and finally receive their certificate of course completion.
The app’s key features:
- Gaming mechanics: the animated videos are accompanied by a clickable thought bubble pop-ups giving hints on how the dialog partner is feeling and badges and points that can be raised by users for using effective tactics or otherwise lost. There are conversation goal reminders at the bottom of the screen as well.
- Immersive UX: the app offers a set of well-designed 2D screens featuring 3D models with complex facial animations, textual information and audio tracks — all integrated smoothly within the timeline to create an effective simulator of a natural conversation.
- Built-in Survey and Tracking Tools: the solution is equipped with an assessment bundle collecting feedback about users’ experience, a three-month follow-up survey gathering long-term data, and a user tracking system giving information on the app’s launch and the progress in completing the program.
- Full Screen Mode: the web player can choose to stay either in small screen mode or switch to a full one.
Challenge
The most challenging task was to deliver the final version of the solution on a tight schedule without compromising either on functionality and project scope, or product quality in order to meet very high quality requirements set by the client.
Methodology
For managing product development, Softeq’s team employed Scrum, an iterative and incremental agile software development methodology, enabling the team to handle a large scope of work with optimized efforts.
Results
The solution was implemented on time and on budget, featuring all required functionality. The program was presented for target users, meeting recognition among educators and public health establishments. Above all, the solution is currently under review for inclusion in the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Best Practices Registry.
