AI NEW TOOLS

Tools of the Future

A student-driven vision for the next generation of academic tools.

Overview & Objective

Typically, when the University decides to incorporate a new tool or suite, it does so unilaterally without talking with students to determine their needs. Tools of the Future was an effort to reverse the paradigm. It was a semester-long effort to articulate a student-driven vision for our academic tools. The A.I.I. specially recruited Undergraduate students from the Multi-Disciplinary Design Division to be part of the core design team that developed concepts for tools and systems that could improve the student experience, increase student success, and streamline educational operations.

Through concept exploration and testing, the team identified two leading opportunity areas: one around registering for classes + checking progress towards degree completion, and a second around deciding a major. In response to these, the team developed two concepts. The first, “Smart Scheduler,” is a centralized, visual way to plan future semesters and check progress toward degree completion. It combines multiple tools across registration, planning, and degree audit workflows to give students a more holistic view. The second, “Personalized Planner,” is an AI-powered major exploration tool that allows students to discover paths and options based on their strengths, interests, unique priorities, and goals.

Funders

Office of Undergraduate Studies Logo

Office of Undergraduate Studies

Status & Next Steps

Concepts developed during the first phase are being dovetailed with concurrent, similar initiatives. Specifically, “Personal Planner” thinking is being rolled into UGuide, an AI-bot focused on helpings students explore majors and find resources.

Approach

Phase I was a 12-week effort over the Summer Semester of 2024. The team followed the Design Thinking Process by first mapping opportunity areas and understanding needs. Then, the team rapidly brainstormed ideas in the following weeks and coalesced on four ideas concept test with other students. Once qualitative testing was complete, the team identified insights and implications that drove final refinements for Smart Scheduler and Personal Planner.

Details

“Personal Planner” is currently being incorporated with the UGuide effort, and “Smart Scheduler” is being used to determine experience requirements that will inform future vendor selection for registration and other related tools.