Analyse competition

[Apollo-XIV]

This is a section to discuss our competitors and maybe think about what features or aspects we want our platform to have.

• [x] Alex - Comptia Certmaster
• [x] Luis - Udemy
• [x] Kenan - KodeKloud
• [x] Nick - Codecademy
• [x] Amaan - freecodecamp
• [x] Granham - coursea.com

[Apollo-XIV]

Comptia Certmaster

• Breaks modules into lessons
• Each lesson has some text based learning, some quizzing, and often a lab or PBQ
• Gives learning points to incentivise learning
• Has other activities and games to encourage engagement with the platform
• Exam type questions are useful
• Quizzes aren't always useful or clear, and flashcards can conflict with one another Overall, Certmaster is definitely a good platform. It provides learners with lessons that can be completed at their own pace, while still advising a certain level of content covered per day/week in the form of a gamified points system and lessons. This helps encourage learners to engage consistently, however, fails insofar as daily use is concerned. I think this is largely due to the website format not working well on mobile and making it harder to engage with. Platforms like duolingo, on the other hand, excel at consistent engagement with features like streaks, push notifications, and easy access through an app rather than a website.

[LuisRuivo21]

Udemy

Positive points:

• color scheme (2/3 colors maximum)
• various categories (flexible learning options)
• clear layout (well structured)
• responsive - Udemy in general has a responsive design, however, some of the pages are not 100% responsive - when playing the videos.
• course content information (number of sections of each course, total length (h), students can pick specific lectures, info about requirements needed along with brief description about the course (what will be covered) )
• students can rate and leave comments
• brief descriptions about the tutor and related courses
• the price of the course is always visible
• certificate provided when course completed
• top categories (design, development, IT & Software, etc)
• 2/3 free lectures for each course (freemium model)
• resources provided (files, pdf's etc) can be downloaded by the student
• courses with real-world applications (practice and theory)
• option to take notes and export these - Udemy has this option but perhaps could be improved.

Features that I would include:

• ability to set our own goals and see progress (ability to learn at our own pace)
• top courses section
• quiz to understand student's level (strengths and weaknesses)
• certificate provided for specific sections of the course (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript etc)

[Apollo-XIV]

Udemy, Coursera, edX, Codecademy, Pluralsight

Positive points:

...

please could you link which features are in which if you can, have you reviewed all of these as I think a couple of them were going to be done by others?

[icybox129]

codecademy

Positives

• Account creation or single sign-on with google/github/linkedin etc
• Doesn’t force you to sign in to view the website
• Consistent colour scheme. Uses 5 or 6 maximum
• Sticky navbar and changes colour to white as you scroll down
• Previous page position is saved when you go back
• Gives user a quiz to guide them to relevant courses
• Users can set their own goals and see current progress on their courses
• Most programming languages and courses are split individually
• Community page for forums and discord servers

Negatives

• No obvious way to filter out and find all the free courses
• Can’t see what you’re paying for – the course locked behind the subscription model only give you a basic syllabus (literally just the headings)

Positive or Negative?

• Subscription based

[Vanilla-G]

Corsera.org

This is not an add to cart style site. Its hard to give my hard earned cash to the owners of this site.

Site looks nice, sleek and simple to use. Loading times are responsive, all links seem to work, all images seem to load.

I have had to create an account to get access to course content. Sign up was very easy.

Once logged in course navigation options are clearly visible. I can track progress as expected. Layout very similar to LinkedIn ELearning. Simple and easy to use. The available courses seem to be a lot larger to the ones that are on udemy.

[Manchester23]

Kode Kloud

Positives UX/UI Aspects:

1)Intuitive User Interface: A well-designed e-learning platform ensures a user-friendly interface that is intuitive and easy to navigate. Clear navigation menus, consistent layout, and logical organization of content contribute to a positive user experience.

2)Responsive Design: A responsive design adapts to different screen sizes and devices, providing a seamless learning experience across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. This allows users to access courses on the go and enhances accessibility.

3)Visual Appeal: An aesthetically pleasing interface with appealing visuals, balanced colors, and typography enhances user engagement and makes the learning experience more enjoyable. Thoughtful use of multimedia elements, such as images, videos, and interactive components, can also enhance the overall user experience.

4)Personalization Options: Providing customization options, such as theme selection or personalized dashboards, empowers users to tailor their learning environment to their preferences. This personalization fosters a sense of ownership and enhances user satisfaction

Negative UX/UI Aspects:

1)Complex Navigation: A complex navigation structure with excessive menu options or unclear labeling can confuse users and hinder their ability to find the desired courses or resources. Clear and streamlined navigation is crucial to prevent frustration and improve usability.

2)Lack of Visual Hierarchy: Poor visual hierarchy can make it difficult for users to prioritize and locate important information. Consistent use of headings, subheadings, and visual cues helps users understand the content hierarchy and find relevant information easily.

3)Limited Accessibility Features: Inadequate accessibility features, such as lack of alt-text for images or inadequate keyboard navigation, can exclude users with disabilities from fully engaging with the platform. Incorporating accessibility standards and providing inclusive design features is crucial for a user-centered e-learning platform.

User Impact:

Enhanced Engagement and Motivation: A well-designed UX/UI positively impacts user engagement and motivation. Intuitive navigation, visually appealing interfaces, and interactive elements create an immersive learning experience, capturing and maintaining users' attention throughout their learning journey.

Improved Learning Efficiency: A user-friendly interface with clear content organization and intuitive interactions allows users to find and consume learning materials more efficiently. Users can focus on learning rather than struggling with the platform's usability, resulting in a more productive learning experience.

Increased User Satisfaction and Retention: A positive UX/UI design contributes to user satisfaction, leading to increased user retention and the likelihood of continued usage. When users enjoy their learning experience, they are more likely to complete courses, recommend the platform to others, and return for future learning opportunities.

Accessibility and Inclusivity: Prioritizing UX/UI accessibility considerations ensures that the platform caters to users with diverse abilities. Implementing inclusive design principles enables individuals with disabilities to access and navigate the platform effectively, promoting equal opportunities for learning.

In summary, a well-designed UX/UI for an e-learning platform incorporates intuitive navigation, responsive design, visual appeal, and personalization options. However, challenges such as complex navigation and inconsistent interfaces need to be addressed. Positive UX/UI aspects enhance user engagement, learning efficiency, satisfaction, and accessibility, ultimately making the e-learning platform more effective and user-centric.

[AmaanSakaria123]

FreeCodeCamp

Positives

• Shows the popular courses
• shows what they do straight away
• simple search bar that you can search courses
• good nav bar
• Can change languages

Negatives

• very simple
• no colour
• doesnt have much on the home page

[Apollo-XIV]

we can review these as we build our project requirements doc