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.
