The User Experience by Sarah
Sarahof New York's entry into Varsity Tutor's July 2017 scholarship contest
- Rank:
- 0 Votes
The User Experience by Sarah - July 2017 Scholarship Essay
My heart is beating faster and faster. I almost can’t breathe. Butterflies in my stomach, blinding lights in my face, a crowd of listeners anxiously awaiting my first words. As I introduce myself I can hear my voice shaking, the inflection going up. I wonder if everyone can tell. I bet they can. I bet the guy in the front row and the blue polo thinks that I’m not capable of giving this talk. Why did I sign up for this? Because it’s important I tell myself. Take a deep breath, shoulders back. This is important.
It’s commonly cited that anxiety levels of students today are the equivalent of asylum patients in the 1950’s. I can’t say I was an asylum patient in the 1950’s, but I can speak on behalf of the experience of a student. The American education system is a high-stakes introduction to adulthood. It’s not inherently evil, but my TED Talk would explore ways in which it needs to be reformed to focus on the student.
It makes perfect sense; the business of standardized testing drives our education system. Students must take an AP, IB, PSAT, SAT, ACT, or all of the above to get into any prestigious college. If they feel inadequate, they hire tutors, buy study books, fueling the economy. Yet few of these companies focus on the mental health of the customer. Sure, a few books include suggestions for taking some time off the night before an exam; however, very rarely if ever will a book include tips to curb students’ anxiety levels, lay out a healthy study plan. Not every student may need this, but it would not be detrimental to encourage healthy habits. In the “Let’s Move” campaign under prior administration, schools encouraged healthy diet and fitness habits; without equivalent mental health habits advocated, it communicates that they are a secondary concern. This is the wrong message to send. The argument can be made that schools meant to focus on student success, not mental wellness, but that simply points to the larger issue: designing a product for the best user experience.
As a business in the 21st century, it is nearly impossible to succeed without focusing on the user. What began with early products like Ford motor cars has since become a more recognizable term with globalization. The consumer is the focus, and products are designed with best experience in mind. Likewise, the education system offers options like charter schools, private and public traditional education, and online or home-school programs. Most students are limited financially or otherwise to public schools. Still, the public education is designed for high graduation rates, not student experience. A shortage of counselors, a lack of communication, and limited student offerings all point to an improperly-designed system.
Combined with standardized tests, lack of user consideration causes discontent with an education that is “free”. As a result, some students fall through the cracks or develop unhealthy habits. But we can fix this. The purpose of this TED Talk is to enlighten people to the reality of this issue, and to encourage them to engage in solutions. We stand on the brink of an education revolution. As the rest of the world changes, outdated education must adapt as well. The future will focus on students, ultimately leading to more successful individuals and more prepared citizens. It is our job to pave the way for this transformation.