Monday, January 19, 2004
Personas (2):
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Students:
Maria Mendez, 15
Maria is an all-around "good kid." She respects her mom, looks out for her little brother, doesn't get into trouble at school, and has enough self-confidence to do what she wants rather than just what everyone else does. Academically, she's not at the very top of her class, but she's not at the bottom, either. In class, she also tends to be reserved and doesn't make much of an effort to ask or answer questions. Teachers feel she's not engaged, but because she's not a "problem child" and because they have too many of those to deal with already, they don't make a significant effort to draw Maria out. Maria is much more quiet in class than she is outside of class mostly because she doesn't feel that she's very smart. As she's grown older, classes have become harder and she doesn't know how to deal with that. She gets mostly Bs and As on report cards, but sometimes she's gotten C's, expecially in math. She hates math. She just doesn't see why she needs to learn it. She knows how to add and subtract, which is the useful stuff when she goes to stores and things, but why does she need to learn all this other stuff? Maria knows her mom wants her to go to college, but Maria doesn't know about that. She's probably not smart enough to go to college. And also, how will her mother pay for college? It's better to just let Miguel go to college so there's enough money for one of them at least and besides he's a boy. It's more important that he go to college.
Anna Flack, 7
Anna doesn't know much, but she knows that science class is gross. One time, these zoo people brought in these snakes and all the kids went to touch it, but Anna didn't want to because it was so gross. Anna is a great reader, though. She's read the most books in her class and she can write short-stories and poems. She just doesn't like science. Math is hard too and much more boring than reading. Her parents have bought her extra math and science b0oks and all these videos and CD-ROMS to help Anna with science, but she just doesn't like them and has given up trying to work her way through them when her parents aren't watching. They're so picky! What does it matter if she's one number off in her sums? Anna is getting frustrated with her parents insistence that she do better in math and science, especially since she's just not interested in those areas. If someone could show her that math and science were fun and exciting, maybe Anna would become more engaged in those subjects.
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Students:
Maria Mendez, 15
Maria is an all-around "good kid." She respects her mom, looks out for her little brother, doesn't get into trouble at school, and has enough self-confidence to do what she wants rather than just what everyone else does. Academically, she's not at the very top of her class, but she's not at the bottom, either. In class, she also tends to be reserved and doesn't make much of an effort to ask or answer questions. Teachers feel she's not engaged, but because she's not a "problem child" and because they have too many of those to deal with already, they don't make a significant effort to draw Maria out. Maria is much more quiet in class than she is outside of class mostly because she doesn't feel that she's very smart. As she's grown older, classes have become harder and she doesn't know how to deal with that. She gets mostly Bs and As on report cards, but sometimes she's gotten C's, expecially in math. She hates math. She just doesn't see why she needs to learn it. She knows how to add and subtract, which is the useful stuff when she goes to stores and things, but why does she need to learn all this other stuff? Maria knows her mom wants her to go to college, but Maria doesn't know about that. She's probably not smart enough to go to college. And also, how will her mother pay for college? It's better to just let Miguel go to college so there's enough money for one of them at least and besides he's a boy. It's more important that he go to college.
Anna Flack, 7
Anna doesn't know much, but she knows that science class is gross. One time, these zoo people brought in these snakes and all the kids went to touch it, but Anna didn't want to because it was so gross. Anna is a great reader, though. She's read the most books in her class and she can write short-stories and poems. She just doesn't like science. Math is hard too and much more boring than reading. Her parents have bought her extra math and science b0oks and all these videos and CD-ROMS to help Anna with science, but she just doesn't like them and has given up trying to work her way through them when her parents aren't watching. They're so picky! What does it matter if she's one number off in her sums? Anna is getting frustrated with her parents insistence that she do better in math and science, especially since she's just not interested in those areas. If someone could show her that math and science were fun and exciting, maybe Anna would become more engaged in those subjects.
Personas:
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Parents:
Eva Mendez, 35
Eva is a single-mother in San Francisco with two children: 15-year old Maria and 13-year old Miguel. Eva works during the day as an office assistant and at night attends school to study for a Business degree so that she can move up in her career. She regrets not studying past high school and does not want her children to make the same mistake. She has emphasized the importance of getting a good education to them but she's not sure she has made her point. Since she's busy all day, she also worries about the absence of adult role models for her children. Her children are generally well-behaved -- although Miguel sometimes falls into the wrong crowd. However, she's not sure how to encourage them to succeed in school. Maria seems to think that it is not cool to be at the top of her class and although she used to do well in elementary school, her grades have fallen. Maria also seems to think that girls aren't expected to do Math well, and since Eva's math skills herself are limited -- though she's improving them with her studies -- there's not much she can do to change Maria's mind. Miguel is naturally inclined towards the sciences -- he has a job at a mechanic's in town -- but he is starting to feel the same way as Maria in that it's not cool to do very well at school. Besides, both children know that it will be difficult for their mother to send them to college.
Molly and Bret Flack, 33 and 34
Molly and Bret are working parents in a middle/upper-middle class suburb. They have one daughter, Anna, who is 7 years old and in the 2nd grade at the public Norfolk Elementary. Molly works as a paralegal and Bret is a lawyer in another firm. Both parents went to college and have degrees in History. They want Anna to get a good education because they believe that she should be able to support herself in life. They've already begun saving for college. Molly sits down with Anna every day and goes over her homework with her to make sure its done. Bret is busier with work, so he usually leaves this up to Molly. The toys they've given Anna are mostly dolls and tea-sets and "girl" type toys because Anna's shown no inclination for sports or anything like that. They don't understand why Anna doesn't like Math and Science at school -- although neither of them really ever did. She thinks its dirty and boring. She'd rather read storybooks than do math problems. The Flacks are trying to think of a way to encourage Anna to do well in Math and Science; she does well in all of her other subjects. They have considered tutoring, but the school doesn't provide tutors. They've also considered after-school places like Sylvan Learning Center or Score, but aren't sure those are right for Anna.
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Parents:
Eva Mendez, 35
Eva is a single-mother in San Francisco with two children: 15-year old Maria and 13-year old Miguel. Eva works during the day as an office assistant and at night attends school to study for a Business degree so that she can move up in her career. She regrets not studying past high school and does not want her children to make the same mistake. She has emphasized the importance of getting a good education to them but she's not sure she has made her point. Since she's busy all day, she also worries about the absence of adult role models for her children. Her children are generally well-behaved -- although Miguel sometimes falls into the wrong crowd. However, she's not sure how to encourage them to succeed in school. Maria seems to think that it is not cool to be at the top of her class and although she used to do well in elementary school, her grades have fallen. Maria also seems to think that girls aren't expected to do Math well, and since Eva's math skills herself are limited -- though she's improving them with her studies -- there's not much she can do to change Maria's mind. Miguel is naturally inclined towards the sciences -- he has a job at a mechanic's in town -- but he is starting to feel the same way as Maria in that it's not cool to do very well at school. Besides, both children know that it will be difficult for their mother to send them to college.
Molly and Bret Flack, 33 and 34
Molly and Bret are working parents in a middle/upper-middle class suburb. They have one daughter, Anna, who is 7 years old and in the 2nd grade at the public Norfolk Elementary. Molly works as a paralegal and Bret is a lawyer in another firm. Both parents went to college and have degrees in History. They want Anna to get a good education because they believe that she should be able to support herself in life. They've already begun saving for college. Molly sits down with Anna every day and goes over her homework with her to make sure its done. Bret is busier with work, so he usually leaves this up to Molly. The toys they've given Anna are mostly dolls and tea-sets and "girl" type toys because Anna's shown no inclination for sports or anything like that. They don't understand why Anna doesn't like Math and Science at school -- although neither of them really ever did. She thinks its dirty and boring. She'd rather read storybooks than do math problems. The Flacks are trying to think of a way to encourage Anna to do well in Math and Science; she does well in all of her other subjects. They have considered tutoring, but the school doesn't provide tutors. They've also considered after-school places like Sylvan Learning Center or Score, but aren't sure those are right for Anna.
Monday, January 12, 2004
Here are notes from the session! Rockin'
http://wh/copycam/firstfloor?album=openCurrent&image=1
Let's get personas and a first draft done by the beginning of next week. We should allow a lot of time to get feedback from profs since they're busy people.
Roma, do parents and kids persona development for the portal idea.
Em, do school teacher.
Lilly will do retiree.
Donielle will do school administrator.
Based on the persona we can make sure our plan accounts for key questions.
http://wh/copycam/firstfloor?album=openCurrent&image=1
Let's get personas and a first draft done by the beginning of next week. We should allow a lot of time to get feedback from profs since they're busy people.
Roma, do parents and kids persona development for the portal idea.
Em, do school teacher.
Lilly will do retiree.
Donielle will do school administrator.
Based on the persona we can make sure our plan accounts for key questions.
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
some thoughts:
this is stuff we've already said implicitly, but I understand/organize better when I write things down. So bear with me. (additions invited...)
I. General Research to do/ppl to talk with:
1. organizations like Teach for Amer, THe New Teacher Project
2. the retired veterans program, or others
3. school districts/teachers
4. retired persons --> try and find places where we'd have access to retired professionals who'd be interested. where can we find our "target market?"
II. From research we make a business model, and then iterate with feedback, additional research, etc
Now, I was trying to think of people I could contact to ask. I don't know if these people are appropriate or whatever, but I'll throw them out there for y'all to have your say
1. since i'm the only one who went to hs locally, it would be ideal if i could contact someone at my hs. then, there is the fact that i hated my hs. but maybe they won't remember that. i know one of the teachers i actually liked is in touch with some people through email, i can try and find out about him.
2. there's a PhD student in the technology learning program at the school of ed here named Angela Booker whom i worked with at plugged in. an awesome woman, it's been a couple of years since i was in touch with her, but she might have an interesting perspective if i can track her down.
3. my friend melanie's hs teacher that she still is in touch with works at the epa charter school, i think. i don't know if she'd be willing to give contact info? i'm sure she would... i think this is one of the schools where there may be a genuine need for more teachers, so it would be good to take advantage of the fact we're so close
this is stuff we've already said implicitly, but I understand/organize better when I write things down. So bear with me. (additions invited...)
I. General Research to do/ppl to talk with:
1. organizations like Teach for Amer, THe New Teacher Project
2. the retired veterans program, or others
3. school districts/teachers
4. retired persons --> try and find places where we'd have access to retired professionals who'd be interested. where can we find our "target market?"
II. From research we make a business model, and then iterate with feedback, additional research, etc
Now, I was trying to think of people I could contact to ask. I don't know if these people are appropriate or whatever, but I'll throw them out there for y'all to have your say
1. since i'm the only one who went to hs locally, it would be ideal if i could contact someone at my hs. then, there is the fact that i hated my hs. but maybe they won't remember that. i know one of the teachers i actually liked is in touch with some people through email, i can try and find out about him.
2. there's a PhD student in the technology learning program at the school of ed here named Angela Booker whom i worked with at plugged in. an awesome woman, it's been a couple of years since i was in touch with her, but she might have an interesting perspective if i can track her down.
3. my friend melanie's hs teacher that she still is in touch with works at the epa charter school, i think. i don't know if she'd be willing to give contact info? i'm sure she would... i think this is one of the schools where there may be a genuine need for more teachers, so it would be good to take advantage of the fact we're so close
