Classes sometimes are much too boring to deal with, given there’s are new faces every single quarter, and it feels like starting all over again. This somewhat discourages long-lasting connections and interactions because you might never see your classmates again. Cohorts is a means for students, preferably in the same major, to connect, pick the same classes, and advance as a group. This is already done with some majors with cohorts and progress students through the two years in the major. The main advantage of this over other formats is that you have a group you can progress with, people who you will know well, people who you can get comfortable with over a certain period, a group you can engage with and feel a connection to. A group that knows you well, knows your weaknesses and tendencies, knows your personality – a group you don’t have to start over with. A group that has stuck together like that may have some interconnectedness that whole teams might lack, provide opportunities to these cohorts, to compete, get hired as teams, etc.

Cohorts will be a means to communicate with these people, a way to meet them, and a way to stay connected with them. Should feature most ways to communicate, a way to collaborate, a means to stay connected. Meaning chats, probably live stream or video sharing, text sharing, a way to handle files etc. If good enough, could encourage connection to schools so that the cohorts can reserve classes, study spaces, etc.

Why is it a good idea

Inherently, because it is a means to connect students such that they don’t have to go through college quarter to quarter alone. A means to collaborate, a means to engage with those on the same path as you, a means for long-term collaboration. 

Goals – what is Cohorts set out to achieve?

To be the default means that students and perhaps universities and colleges use to establish cohorts. A means for students to be connected for a full 4 years, rather than go through college, quarter to quarter, mostly alone. Individual success will be encouraged, Cohorts sets out to enhance collective progress.

Inspiration

Most organizations, like the NBA, are individual owners under the NBA. The NBA organization has practices that make it fair and easy for all the teams to compete. Yes, some are just larger and in a bigger market. Chorts is a means to have something similar, like being competition to other students, to let students shine in their niche specialty, etc, etc, then some other things may come into place like cohort competitions, etc, etc. It will be a means for everyone to shine in a small way.

Setbacks

Some students may have other things going on ion their lives, and not take some classes at the same time. This is still an advantage because others get the chance to know what a certain class is like, the difficulty etc, etc. This may even be better because if someone is misaligned, then they can find someone else who fits better with their schedule and life. It still all relies on individual work, but that connection is still something important to have going on.

Features

• A means to match people based on who they are, for example, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, background, set of principles, common interests etc etc. 
• Integration into things such as MyPlan will be an important feature that makes it easier to match schedules. A way to map out classes like myplan based on the official school myplan and needed classes, quarter taken, etc.
• Connect to things such as Canvas, Discord, ig, etc. It can be used in high schools as well. 

To connect people with our intent, inclusivity is critical; no one should feel left out, no one should be left out.

Competition

I haven’t seen any other app exactly like mine, there will be the potential of being the first in the industry, This could spell both bad and good news, good news, it is easy to compete given there is no competition, or that there is no market out there. But just because there isn’t a market, doesn’t mean we are not viable. It means we need to establish a market.

Challenges

1. Might be useful in main classes, and not so much with electives.

Solution: find people for the students. Notice if someone else is also taking the class which is an elective, they are more likely to take the same classes, connecting the two. etc etc

2. After the cohorts are established, presumably through your app, what are the chances that they will come back to the app? 

Solution: The app is a place to ensure that you are choosing the right classes and taking the same classes. The reason to come back is to plan, get on track, plan things, see and collaborate on assignments, etc. The goal is to make available these resources, make them easier to understand and engage with. This will streamline the whole process, ensuring everyone is n the same page.

3. Connect people who absolutely hate each other

Solution: They are all adults; they don’t have to always get along, but they should always respect each other.

Marketing

A way for frat bros to all take the same classes if they are on the same path so they can do shit together in and outside of class. Let it start there, then grow. Accommodate all types of people from frat bros to computer science geeks, etc. The base for marketing is frat houses and frat groups because these are the most social groups. The sorority houses, then onwards.

Plan

Get the prototype working, then test with real audiences.

Prototype::

What should people be able to do on the app

Features

• Chat to people from within a cohort
• Join cohorts, up to four cohorts at a time
• General chat to figure out the cohort thing
• Chat within cohorts
• Cohorts can chat to the public ie public forum post
• Connect to canvas
• A way to view class/posts
• Make cohorts and allow people to join
• Request to join a cohort
• Links to other sites eg discord and ig
• Streamlines links and course planners for most of teh classes.
• Default page – the public post with cohorts you can join
• Another page – the individual cohorts – with chats events upcoming classes,, assignments etc

To be continued…

Project progress on Brew.