Distance Learning

Inspiration

With the recent COVID-19 virus, many students don't have any easy way to transition into learning online. The traditional class has been replaced with a variety of unfamiliar platforms, applications or websites. Not all teachers are capable of becoming modern communication technology experts overnight. Our solution not only promotes modern education based on relationships, but also builds civil society, consolidating and unclogging social fabric.

What it does

The app provides existing and upcoming teachers/students the platform necessary to create or continue their education under an online school. Teachers can offer courses and invite existing/prospective students to their virtual classroom or host faculty meetings, while students can join existing or interesting classrooms. It will also provide resources for teachers to recruit and engage students with particular interests, and for students to look up requirements and classes they would like to take. Students have access to the entire semester's worth of material ahead of time as well as easy communication access to other students and the teacher.

How I built it

Our team of developers did an amazing job of creating two prototypes for users to demo, one focused on front-end design while the other had more back-end functionalities. The websites were primarily built using Angular 8, Python, and Django.

Challenges I ran into

Communication (especially among members living in different time zones), differences in schedules, and late team changes.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

Developing the backbone of our online school, creating our team's video, and having functional navigation throughout the website.

What I learned

It is difficult to articulate technical specifications and communicate between team members online. This opportunity also shows that a platform like this is what billions of people need now more than ever.

What's next for Distance Learning

Further developing and refining the app/online school, compatibility with mobile devices, recruiting full-time licensed teachers, students and faculty who like to work from home, marketing through word-of-mouth, more testing and implementing new, better features (eg virtual break rooms, nurse, etc.)