Co-design Process
What is co-design?
Co-design is where users are involved in the design process. It's about designing with, not just for people. In the first part of the SAMHE project we invited schools to work with us to design, refine and test our interactive Web App and activities to make sure they meet schools' needs and are fun and engaging for pupils.
How we worked with schools to co-design the SAMHE Web App
The input of teachers and pupils has been critical to making SAMHE a success and we are so grateful to all the schools who have helped us. Thank you!
Stage 1: co-design
Throughout May - July 2022 we met with teachers and pupils from around 20 'co-design' schools to discuss how SAMHE will work in schools and to get their input on the design of our Web App.
With the help of our co-design schools we:
- Designed our Logo
- Discussed which websites schools like using which helped us to design what our Web App will look like and what it will do. Our conversations with schools helped us to decide that clear information and excellent content were more important than having a particular theme (suggestions ranged from magic to robot football teams).
- Learnt about the different ways in which SAMHE could fit into schools which has shaped the content we plan to offer - we will provide SAMHE activities suitable for use in lessons, extracurricular clubs, to explore careers links, as part of extended projects or even as a 5 minute bell task.
- Considered how content should be presented within the Web App and how to help users find the content that matters most to them
- Designed some of the activities that will be available in the Web App - we've divided these into different types including Data Analysis, Environmental Actions (for example, opening windows), People Actions (for example, moving around in the classroom) and Data Entry (for example, telling us where the monitor is and what is going on in the room around it). Schools helped us to refine and improve these categories and had really exciting ideas for additional activities they'd like to run.
- Decided to use videos and quizzes to help make the Web App interesting and sustain engagement.
Stage 2: co-refine and test - Pioneer Schools
From August - October, whilst our software engineers were busy constructing the Web App, we recruited 123 schools (including many of our co-design schools) as SAMHE 'Pioneer Schools'. Between November 2022 and April 2023 these schools helped us test and refine a range of important aspects of the project, including:
- Set up processes to enable teachers to start using the monitor and Web App, such as WiFi connections and account set up
- The functionality and usability of the Web App, such as users being able to find their data and understand how it is represented
- The structure and content of the activities in the Web App, such as if activities are clear to use, interesting and relevant to pupils
Case study: The evolution of SAMHE line plots
During the SAMHE Pioneers Phase we dedicated several sessions to refining data visualisations within the Web App and discussing which should be implemented next. To show the influence of Pioneer Schools' feedback take a look at these before and after images of our line graphs…
Before Pioneer Schools' input:
After Pioneer Schools' input:
New features implemented as a direct result of Pioneer Schools' feedback include:
- Toggleable options to show maximum and minimum markers and/or overlay a line representing the average
- Toggleable option to start y at 0 or at the minimum observed data point (maximising use of plot space)
- Customisable date selection options to allow more focused analysis of data
- Customisable intervals on the x axis
- Improved graph description
The feedback from teachers and pupils has been invaluable in helping us shape the project to meet its three aims:
- To generate the data our project scientists need in order to better understand schools' indoor air quality across the UK
- To improve schools' access to air quality data, empowering both pupils and staff to make informed decisions about classroom ventilation
- To increase the awareness and understanding of air quality among young people in the UK