2023-07-20 Mobile Meeting notes

Mobile Parity List

To start, a set of smaller development and low discovery projects that would help quickly close parity gaps: 

• What’s New Messaging

• Download Video (File Size)

• Upgrade / Deprecated App Messaging

• Bulk Video Download

• Course Unenroll

Next, projects in the small to medium size that might require some discovery but are generally well known / understood in terms of scope:

• Social Authentication

• Deep Linking via http://Branch.io  

• Accessibility (Screenreader Support)

• Video Quality Setting (HLS Videos) 

  • dependency here on video pipeline of choice

  • Open edX solution for video transcoding / AWS support isn’t open source currently

  • HLS video support is low development, but quality settings and tools don’t exist yet.

• Dates / Calendar Integration

  • Exploring current code, path to migrate is TBD

• Adjusting Personalized Schedules 

• Improved Analytics

Other Future / Larger efforts:

• Build Automation Improvements

  • Implemented Github actions (iOS) as build system for running unit tests, additional improvements possible (Android release soon as well)

  • Potential publishing path, connection to localization infrastructure, etc.

• Cohorts / Discussion Cohorts

• Time Gated Course Access

• Timed / Proctored Exam Awareness

• Prerequisite Courses / Subsections

• Notifications Support

• Localization Infrastructure / Automation

• Discovery Search Filtering / Subject Browsing

Largest Efforts

• Programs Support

  • Is discovery service a dependency here? Potential larger conversation necessary here based on other efforts.

• Commerce Support

  • Initial research / discovery completed here, large effort

  • SKU management is a concern, iOS only allows 10,000 SKUs with price ranges, etc. How this maps to actual ecommerce system pricing is TBD, and similar open questions about subscriptions.

Mobile Vision / Direction

• Slides / content to be shared next week

• Beyond lightning fast full courses in your pocket, with support and motivational messaging to guide your progress through learning content.

  • Lightning fast - focus on performance and native development over web views of current / past, streamlined navigation, offline catalog discovery where possible, etc.

  • Full Courses - shifting as close to full offline interactivity as we can to provide the full course experience, includes exploring complex logic or even special mobile / tablet exams, etc.

  • Support and Motivation - Shifting to messages / conversational course home experience over course outline home with future potential to expand dialogue options between system / instructor / students.

  • Through Learned Content - Awareness of a student’s full experience beyond just a single course

Initial draft above, notes below

• Non traditional learners being able to learn where they are

• Global access and improved usability

Future Mobile Roadmap / Features

Early discovery still, have discussed a few items like:

• Learning Site Selection

• Improved Course Navigation

•  

Flutter

Has the team considered this option / path?
- Marco gave quick summary of previous conversations on this (will update with notes)

Existing Mobile Applications

Should share with team that some links / documentation details on the edX mobile app repositories are out of date.

• See google docs link at the top and reference to Koa support
  GitHub - openedx-unsupported/edx-app-android: The Open edX mobile app for Android!