4A - Forming an Opportunity Belief

As students go into their upper-level, more difficult classes, study resources that are available for them start to diminish. Coming into the University of Florida as a freshman, most of the classes I was taking my first year had tutoring supplements from Study Edge or Smokin Notes. This created a dependency for these study tools. Now that I’m in my higher-level engineering classes, there are little to no tutoring sessions available. I feel that classes I was taking as a freshman were significantly easier than classes I’m currently enrolled in, yet there are no extra study tools to help me now. I believe that most sophomores, juniors, and seniors feel this unmet need. I don’t think this need is new—classes always increase in difficulty as the years go on and study resources diminish. Students now are trying to exhaust all the resources they can find online such as Khan Academy, but there is only so much one can do on their own. I would say I’m 60% sure the opportunity exists to create more study resources for students that are in higher level classes.

#1 SECOND SEMESTER SOPHOMORE, FEMALE, AGE 20

-How many classes would you say had Study Edge or Smokin Notes in your freshman year?

Pretty much all my classes freshman year had Study Edge or Smokin Notes. They really saved me.

-How many classes would you say had Study Edge or Smokin Notes in your sophomore year?

I think I had Study Edge for two classes first semester and there aren’t any Study Edge or Smokin Notes for the classes that I’m taking this semester.

-Do you feel that the classes you were taking freshman year were easier or harder than the classes you’re currently taking?

Looking back, they were definitely easier. The professors expect a lot more from us now too, so they go at a faster pace and assume we understand what’s going on, but that isn’t always the case.

-Do you feel you have the same access to tutoring resources in your higher-level courses?

No, I definitely don’t have the same access. Things would be a lot easier now if I did.

-What resources are you using in place of Study Edge and Smokin Notes if these services aren’t available for your classes?

I try to go to office hours as much as possible, but sometimes they conflict with my other classes. If I really don’t understand something I’ll try and find videos online to clear things up.

-If there were study resources for the classes you’re enrolled in now that don’t already have them, would you use them?

Absolutely. If I had Study Edge for my classes I would 100% use them; things would be a lot easier.

#2 SECOND SEMESTER JUNIOR, FEMALE, AGE 21

-How many classes would you say had Study Edge or Smokin Notes in your freshman year?

I think I had about three classes that had Study Edge.

-How many classes would you say had Study Edge or Smokin Notes in your sophomore year?

 About the same, so three.

-Do you feel that the classes you were taking freshman year were easier or harder than the classes you’re currently taking?

Freshman year was much easier.

-Do you feel you have the same access to tutoring resources in your higher-level courses?

No, it’s harder to find tutoring resources now that I’m getting into classes that are more specific for my major.

-What resources are you using in place of Study Edge and Smokin Notes if these services aren’t available for your classes?

I don’t really use anything, just the notes the professor provides in class.

-If there were study resources for the classes you’re enrolled in now that don’t already have them, would you use them?

Yeah, who wouldn’t?

#3 SECOND SEMESTER SOPHOMORE, MALE, AGE 20

-How many classes would you say had Study Edge or Smokin Notes in your freshman year?

I think two.

-How many classes would you say had Study Edge or Smokin Notes in your sophomore year?

 I’ve had study edge for three classes this year.

-Do you feel that the classes you were taking freshman year were easier or harder than the classes you’re currently taking?

Oh gosh, freshman year was so much easier.

-Do you feel you have the same access to tutoring resources in your higher-level courses?

Well, I’m still taking my Gen Ed. classes so yes, I have the same access to tutoring resources.

-What resources are you using in place of Study Edge and Smokin Notes if these services aren’t available for your classes?

I read the textbook every now and then if I really don’t understand something.

-If there were study resources for the classes you’re enrolled in now that don’t already have them, would you use them?

Yes.

Reflection: I think it was pretty consistent across the board. All the students believed that the classes they were taking freshman year were easier and that there were fewer resources available to them now that they’ve progressed into sophomore year. Everyone that I talked to was very clear that if their classes had study edge or something like it, they would take advantage of that resource. It is clear that there is a need for a study resource like Study Edge for upper level classes. There really wasn’t anything surprising that I learned; it is a clear fact that Study Edge and Smokin Notes are very popular among students.

Summary: Most of my opportunity is still there. I think if there were study resources for upper-level courses, students would definitely take advantage of that. My interviews really just confirmed this thought. I think it’s good to take customer feedback into consideration—obviously if something isn’t working and there is a consensus amongst customers as to what that is, it wouldn’t hurt to adapt to their needs.