Recommended guidelines for tool

The proposed ICCIT Mapping Tool received a lot of positive feedback from the target users –
students and faculty. It has been shown to provide support and use for students specifically.
Through the use of the interactive prototype, users have had a positive experience and
emphasized the need for the tool immediately. The following document breaks down each feature
in the prototype as well as the guidelines for each and the suggestions for future use.

Purpose of the Tool

The initial purpose of this tool was to enable students to plan out their university careers visually
in order to ensure fulfilling credit requirements and to limit the tediousness required when
picking courses as it is presently. Though this tool aims to do this, the general purpose is to
ensure a better user experience than what is currently put in place with Acorn, the UTM
Timetable, and Degree explorer. This mapping tool ‘MyJourney’ will achieve a better user
experience through integrating the current features of Acorn and timetable planner while making
it easier for students to better understand their program requirements. This experience will be
facilitated by the current ​necessary​ features laid out :
· Credit requirements
· Visualizing courses in a map
· Course browser
· Career-course planner
· Enrollment cart transfer
Feature Guidelines
Course Browser
Currently, the way students and faculty can access the list of courses available is through
going to the UTM Timetable Planner or their Program website. Once they are provided
with the list of courses they will have to refer back to acorn to search for the course in
order to enroll. MyJourney should have a database with all the courses in the ICCIT
program as well as information about the courses, specifically (in order of importance) –
course descriptions, times when they are scheduled, prerequisite information, past syllabi,
 and student reviews. This will enable users to have an all-in-one comprehensive outlook
on courses within their programs. This will be further emphasized by the use filters (such
as by year, major, and semester). This will reduce the tediousness involved with
searching for and enrolling in courses.

Credit Requirements
Looking back at the tediousness involved in picking out courses to fulfill program
requirements, this tool will enable students to add courses in their personalized ‘map’ and
while doing so, it will update the student according to whether the program credit
requirement was fulfilled. Students may continue to add courses up until their map has
been filled with the courses needed and the credits required. The current tool that enables
students to view this is with degree explorer, however, data from the survey conducted
state that the visuals of degree explorer are not appealing and that it is confusing. What
this credit requirement will do is be on the side of the screen as students are filling out
their map with courses and update as they go.

Visualizing Courses on a Map

The map as depicted in the prototype will show a breakdown of the courses that students
will be taking through their university careers. It will be separated by year of study and
have a pre-set number of ‘bubbles’ for students to fill out with courses they would like to
take. This will enable students to see how each course will be connected with one another
as well as being supported by the credit requirement tracker.

Enrollment Cart Transfer

Currently, students find courses on different databases and then search for the courses
found on Acorn in order to enroll into them. Given the complexity of being able to enrol
into courses from an external course, this platform will give students the option to
transfer the courses they find to their enrollment cart so they do not have to go through
the process of searching for courses on acorn and finding out descriptions elsewhere. This
 will be done with the timetable planner embedded in the platform. Students will be able
to see courses and the times they’re being offered in each semester and use this to inform
their decision. They will have the opportunity to be informed of the course they are
interested in and transfer to their enrolment cart and choose to enroll in it later.

Career-Course Planner
This is a suggestion that was made by students and faculty members interviewed.
Although it is seen as an ‘extra’ feature, it is proved as necessary due to the importance of
future opportunities for students. University enables students to figure out what they
would like to do with their life, and this feature will give suggestions to students of
courses they can take that relate to future careers that appeal to them. This will portray a
proactive approach towards future-oriented learning, rather than strictly fitting with
academic opportunities.

Nice to Have
Based on the research conducted, target users have recommended features that should be
included in the tool for later purposes. Our team recognized that this tool has the potential to be
the ‘new Acorn.’ This is so because of the course-oriented nature of the tool as well as the
solutions drawn from the issues students have with Acorn. The following features are
recommendations for nice to have parts of the tool -
· Student reviews
· Sharing timetables
· Summer exchange course information
· Course suggestions (like Instagram suggestions)
· Career Quiz to suggest career paths for students

Design Guidelines
From speaking with students, one representative, in particular, stated that the current platforms at
their disposal look like the “Windows ‘07” operating system. The importance of visual aesthetics
in this platform is fundamental. Our team recommends that the design laid out in the wireframe
can be a start to fulfill a modern and updated look. The tool should follow the current colour
scheme of the University of Toronto (blue and white). The white as the main background colour
will keep things looking bright and appealing for users, rather than the current grey and dark blue
used. Also, the rounded buttons should stay the same as it enhances the modern look intended to
emphasize the aesthetic appeal. Lastly, for the login page, rather than the current page used for
Acorn, the platform will be separate from acorn and have an open look as designed in the
prototype. This does not support students for the purpose of visual appeal, but also for students
outside of UofT. In addition to our main target users (enrolled students and faculty), our team
suggested high school students. The reason behind this is to provide them with guidance for what
they can do once they are in university and also lower the intimidating barrier that the university
seems to have in general. Overall, the design of this platform should not be an afterthought, but it
should be taken into consideration for the benefits of users and to improve the user experience.