Ask Mr. Calculus
Calculating Design
Role
UX & Visual Designer
Duration
In Progress
Team Size
1
Tools
In Progress
Overview
I redesigned my math teacher's website at his general request made 4 years ago, undertaking the design process in a solo venture to test my abilities and repay what I've gained from his teaching.
Background
Over 400,000 high school students take the annual Advanced Placement Calculus AB and BC exams, making calculus one of the more popular AP Program offerings. As such, several websites focus on helping students achieve their best scores, including Ask Mr. Calculus. However, this site was created in 1995 and it shows. As a result, Ask Mr. Calculus is confusing and difficult to navigate, especially for first-time users.
Challenge
Improve the functionality, user-flow, and overall atmosphere of Ask Mr. Calculus for students and teachers alike.
Understanding the User
I started by jotting down my preliminary observations and what I wanted to accomplish with the website, considering both the site owner and the expected audience.
Interviews
I interviewed several high school teachers through email to find out more about their methods for preparing students for the AP Calculus exams.
[Results in progress.]
Secondary Research
After trawling through several threads and Google search pages, I determined that Ask Mr. Calculus was a popular resource for high school students, referenced on Reddit and CollegeConfidential.
Both old and new site addresses were also listed on several teacher websites and other mathematical resources.
Competitive Analysis
There are several websites that offer AP Calculus exams and solutions. I chose to compare only the sites that had their solutions in PDF and image forms, as Ask Mr. Calculus did not cater to those who use video solutions.