Groups / Classes Feature

Introduction

Socialdecks has always been an adaptive, flashcard-based education system which utilizes social networking ideas.

Current Features (related to interaction with other users)

· Profile Pages – Displays personal information, activity/event history, discussion wall, and badges/accomplishments to foster networking.

· Socialdecks Blog – Keep the users up to date on new features and events. Users can also share the blog and recent information by using the blog’s feed or widget. (http://www.socialdecks.com/blog/)

Other Features (related to communication with the site)

· Contact Webmaster: http://www.socialdecks.com/contact/

· Suggestion Box: http://www.socialdecks.com/feedback.php

· Help Center: http://www.socialdecks.com/help/

Types of Interaction

· Communication with the site (contact, feedback, help)

· Interaction with the site (cards, decks)

· Interaction with other users (profiles, blog, groups)

Steps in the Process

After taking into account these previously existing features, we (Socialdecks Staff) thought that there could still be room for improvement. This is what we came up with:

1. Users should be able to communicate with their teachers for information about:

o Homework

o Tests

o Practice Decks

o Hints and extras

o Miscellaneous

2. Users should be able to not only have easy access to updates on that information, but they should be able to work on these aspects through Socialdecks.

3. Users should be able to work on practice decks suggested or created by teachers, peers, themselves, and other users.

4. Users should be able to suggest these and other related decks.

When we brainstormed the many ideas, we decided to create a Socialdecks Groups. With Groups, users can create groups easily just by setting a title. They can create groups, browse the group directory, search through groups to find similar groups, manage the groups they created or belong to, and finally and most importantly, interact with each group.  Groups are currently in a public state, and users can join any group they want to.

At a Glance

After you create a group, you can optionally change the description. You can also go to discussion walls on other user’s profiles to post a link to your new group. You can also make wall posts. If you are a teacher, then you can post dates of upcoming quizzes or tests and some decks that you or another student have created to practice from on the group’s discussion wall.

On the other hand, if you are just another user who’s browsing through groups and happen to find one created by your teacher for a class you are currently taking, you can easily sign up for the group. You can go through the practice decks and study for the upcoming events, such as exams, tests, and quizzes, or even just a new topic that you want to get comfortable with.