EduConnect

EduConnect helps remote students discover, connect, and collaborate with like-minded peers through interest-based communities, study rooms, and real-time chat—all within a verified, student-only platform.

Attending remote classes is easy, but building real peer connections in virtual spaces is often overlooked.

Problem

Many remote students struggle with forming meaningful connections in online learning environments. While virtual classes provide academic content, they often lack the social interaction and casual peer engagement found in traditional classrooms. Students frequently feel isolated, unmotivated, and disconnected from their learning communities. The absence of informal communication spaces and accessible collaboration tools makes it challenging to build relationships, work on group projects, or even find study partners—leading to reduced engagement and a less fulfilling educational experience..

Remote learning offers flexibility, but often at the cost of social connection. Through human-centered design, I developed EduConnect, a peer-driven platform that enables remote students to form meaningful relationships, collaborate easily, and foster a true sense of academic community.,

Solution

EduConnect offers a verified, student-only platform designed to make peer connection in remote learning both effortless and meaningful. Through AI-powered matching, interest-based communities, virtual study rooms, and real-time messaging, the app helps students discover like-minded peers, form study groups, and engage in academic and social conversations. With a clean, user-friendly interface and features built around collaboration, EduConnect bridges the social gap in online education—transforming remote learning into a more connected, supportive, and engaging experience.

My Role

Sole UX/UI Designer

Tools

  • Figma

  • Miro

  • Adobe XD

  • Teams

Timeline

6 months

Process

  • Primary Research

  • Secondary Research

  • Surveys & Interviews

  • Ideation

  • Sketching

  • Wireframes

  • High-Fidelity screens

  • Prototyping

  • 3 Usability Testing & Synthesis

  • Redesign

Research

Secondary Research

  • Real-time interactions significantly increase student engagement.

  • Students report higher feelings of isolation and reduced motivation without casual peer interactions.

  • Technology issues and emotional disconnect remain major barriers to remote learning success.

Primary Research

I conducted surveys (30) and in-depth interviews (8) with remote learners:

  • 62% struggled to stay focused online.

  • 50% missed opportunities for peer collaboration.

  • Students expressed a need for spontaneous, informal spaces to build connections outside of structured classes.

Competitive Analysis

I analyzed tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Canvas, Slack, and Google Classroom.

Key Gap Identified:

While these platforms offer communication features, they lack intentional spaces for casual conversations, spontaneous collaboration, and peer matching.

Defining the Problem

User Pain Points:

  • Feeling isolated during remote classes.

  • Difficulty forming study groups or casual conversations.

  • Lack of personalized, easy-to-use social tools.

Design Goals:

  • Help students discover peers with similar academic interests.

  • Foster organic interactions beyond coursework.

  • Offer flexible, intuitive communication channels.

Ideation & Concept

Using Crazy 8s sketching, affinity mapping, and user feedback, I conceptualized EduConnect — a student-only, verified platform combining AI-driven peer matching, interest-based groups, study rooms, and real-time collaboration tools.

✅ Human-centered

✅ Minimalistic, easy-to-use UI

✅ Prioritized emotional well-being alongside functionality

Solution: EduConnect

Core Features

  • AI-Powered Peer Matching: Connects students based on shared courses, interests, and goals.

  • Quick Connect: Instantly match for study sessions based on mutual availability.

  • Interest-Based Communities: Join and engage with like-minded groups.

  • Virtual Study Rooms: Collaborate, co-study, and keep each other accountable.

  • Event Feed: RSVP to events, polls, and community discussions.

Built with a focus on trust: only users with verified educational emails can join.

Final Screens

Usability Testing & Iterations

✅ Round 1 (Low-Fi):

  • Users wanted better discoverability of study groups.

  • Quick Connect needed clearer filtering.

✅ Round 2 (Mid-Fi):

  • Introduced event tagging and RSVP clarity.

  • Added a visible “Leave Study Room” button.

  • Improved Quick Connect with intro prompts.

Final Outcome

EduConnect helps remote learners build connections naturally through common interests, academic needs, and collaborative goals —

making online education feel more human, engaging, and emotionally supportive.

✨ It’s not just a study app; it’s a virtual campus community in your pocket.

✅ Round 3 (High-Fi):

  • College email verification increased trust.

  • Users praised the clean UI and instant connection flow.

  • Suggestions for future improvements: meeting scheduler, dark mode, and notification controls.

Reflection

What I Learned:

  • Emotional connection is just as important as academic functionality.

  • Small UX details (like email verification) can dramatically impact trust and adoption.

  • Usability testing at every stage is critical — users uncover what you can’t always anticipate!

Future Plans:

  • Integrated meeting scheduling.

  • AI-powered study tips assistant.

  • Dark mode for late-night study sessions.

  • Notification and alert customization.