The Blobinsons

 

COLLEGE
UX

TEAMMATES

Joseph Rogers
Kennedy Liggett
Rachel Thomas

Brief

We are continuously capturing data from the world around us. This data is harnessed in numerous ways to push the boundaries of human understanding and ability. Traditionally the domain of experts and advanced tools, gaining insights from the data can now be carried out by more casual users with point-and-click tools and intuitive user interfaces. While tools have become easier to use, the lack of data literacy, or the understanding of the basic concepts of handling data, is still a significant road block.

SAS, a leader in Analytics, has a long history of promoting STEM education. As part of its commitment to education, SAS has a goal of improving data literacy starting early in school. The goal of this collaboration is to explore creative tools to improve data literacy among a range of users starting from middle school and up.

Concept

In collaboration with SAS Analytics, we prototyped a digital tool that teaches data literacy to middle school kids. Our tool is a conversational interface called The Blobinsons, it is designed to teach middle schoolers about distribution by personifying data sets through different blob characters that represent different data sets that cover a wide range of student data interests.

How it Works: Onboarding

When middle schoolers first access our tool, they are taken through an onboarding stage to help them learn the basics of distribution. In this stage, they will meet Archie and be asked to add data points to him to see how his distribution changes.

Unlocking a Family Member

As middle schoolers add data points, they will complete Archie’s data set—unlocking one of his family members.

Completing Onboarding

To complete the onboarding stage, middle schoolers must unlock the rest of Archie’s family members. They can do so by adding and subtracting data points from Archie to make his shape match the shape of the rest of his family members.

Meeting the Family

Once a student unlocks the rest of the family members, they will be taken to a screen where they can choose to interact with one. Each family member represents a different distribution and a unique data set.

Interacting with a Blob

After a student selects a blob, they will be introduced to that blob, as well as the data set it represents. From there, they can watch the data points fall and the blob form.

Being Asked Data Set Questions

As a student interacts with the blob, the blob will ask them questions based on the information in its data set.

Answering Data Set Questions

When a student responds to the data question they’ve been asked, the blob will react accordingly.

Extra Features: Data Tool Set

There are mean, median, mode, and histogram tabs located on the left side of the tool, to give students more information about the blob they are interacting with. For example, if a student drags the histogram tab over the blob, they will see that blob’s histogram.

Blob Assistance

If a student doesn’t engage with the tool for a period of the time, the blob will be prompted to ask the student if they need help.

Repeated Engagement

To encourage students to return to the tool, each time they log in, they are greeted with a new set of blob characters that represent new data sets. This allows for a wide range of data sets covering different topics so it’s guaranteed a student will find a topic they’re interested in.