Key Features

1. 1. Live and Recorded Lessons

   Fieldtrip lessons are hosted on the web, and the same URL for the live session doubles as the link for the recording. Unlike Zoom, if a student misses a live class, they don't need to wait for a recording link; it's readily available during and after the lesson with the same URL.

2. 2. Live Lesson Rewind

   As mentioned, the recording and live session share the same page. So, even if a student joins the class 10 minutes late, they can rewind to the beginning of the lesson and catch up (with options for faster playback or skimming). Teachers can also monitor when a student falls behind and precisely where they are in the lesson.

3. 3. The Lesson Planner

   Fieldtrip empowers teachers to upload their slides in advance, insert questions at relevant points, and structure their lessons more effectively. Another highly appreciated feature was the ability to duplicate lessons for reuse, as teachers often teach the same content to multiple classes, saving them valuable time.

4. 4. The DJ

   This interface, accessible while live, enables teachers to seamlessly switch between various elements such as their camera, slides, or screen sharing with just one click.

An early DJ version, moving between camera and white-board

5. 5. Optimized for Low-Speed Connections

   Fieldtrip doesn't rely solely on screen sharing. Instead, it processes slides as lightweight PDFs, ensuring a smooth experience even with slow internet connections. This optimization received accolades from teachers who often face connectivity challenges.

6. 6. Interactive Student Experience (Without Cameras)

   A notable aspect of Fieldtrip was its approach of not requiring students to have their cameras on at all times. Instead, teachers had a dedicated view for each student (with their initials) and indicators for various student actions, including falling behind, switching to another tab, reactions (emojis), requesting help, asking questions, and responding to other students' queries.



Viewer 'sidebar' with questions, polls and other interactions

Working with Our Users

Building Fieldtrip involved close collaboration with our users. We established a growing beta user group for ongoing feedback and improvements. For the first time, we employed session recording software, specifically LogRocket, which I'm a huge advocate of. This was a transformative experience for me as a designer. Every new feature or modification underwent refinement after reviewing several session recordings.

From that point on, every element was rigorously tested through session recordings with our small beta group, significantly expediting and enhancing our product development process.

A Different Approach than Zoom

During this project, Zoom emerged as a major player in the industry, gaining widespread recognition. The decision to not require student cameras received mixed feedback from users. While some teachers expressed concerns, others wholeheartedly embraced it, asserting that it aided in crafting more effective lessons. With Fieldtrip's emojis, polls, and question systems in place, teachers could still gauge students' progress without relying on constant video feeds.