Back to news
We've created a dashboard for Schools
In this blog post we discuss the dashboard that our brilliant developer Alec created for schools to access as well as the rain gauges installed in Eastbourne.
- #Dashboard
- #SUDS
- #Schools
Engaging Younger Generations in Rainfall!
After successful SuDs for schools initiatives throughout this year and last, we were thrilled to collaborate with Blue Heart once again on another exciting project. Schools throughout Eastbourne have had electronic rainfall gauges installed, collecting data at each site. With schools already involved with water resources, this was the perfect opportunity to further their understanding and get them engaged with the bin like item that had appeared on their school roof.
*SuDS are sustainable drainage systems and are designed to manage water sustainably, helping to reduce flood risk and improve water quality in urban areas.
There were several parts to the brief, which included:
- A lesson plan
- Several classroom resources
- Activities, like making a homemade rain gauge
- An interactive dashboard for teachers and learners to upload data
This pack aimed to help students:
- Understand what a rain gauge is & its purpose.
- Learn how to make a simple rain gauge.
- Learn how to measure and record rainfall data.
- Learn about Eastbourne in relation to rainfall and flooding.
- Provide electronic and physical method of recording and tracking data.
We caught up with our Junior Developer, Alec, who brought the vision of the rain gauge dashboard to life as a powerful resource for school
About Alec
Alec joined the team over the summer and jumped straight into his role, tackling various ongoing projects. Transitioning from a teaching role focused on ecology, Alec was excited to apply his expertise in both education and environmental science to this project, combining technical skill with a passion for student learning - making him the perfect choice to adapt our dashboard for learners!
Getting Stuck into the Design
Alec designed the dashboard with students in mind, aiming to make data analysis exciting and accessible. The dashboard turns rain data into an interactive chart and a table, giving students hands-on experience with real-world data.
Excited by the project, Alec wanted to ensure the dashboard retained engagement, helped students learn and inspired them to connect with rainwater, understanding it as a finite resource. The dashboard enables students to visualise and better understand the data collected about rain, making it a powerful resource and teaching tool!
From confetti animations on data submissions to visual responses that celebrate students’ contributions, every feature was designed to keep learners engaged and curious. Alec explained "as a junior designer it was really nice to have autonomy a project and get stuck in". With a commitment to accessibility, Alec ensured that the dashboard design includes features like keyboard navigation, high contrast colours, and ample white space, making it usable for all students and teachers.
What Features were Included?
Submission Form & Visual Responses
The data submission form, with its visually responsive feedback, encourages students to take ownership by identifying themselves in each data upload, celebrating their contributions with animated visuals upon submission.
Charts, Graphs & Tables
Interactive graphs and tables bring rain data to life, updating in real-time as students upload their findings. These visual aids help students grasp concepts like rainfall patterns, making data analysis an engaging experience.
The Our Rainwater Mascot
The Our Rainwater mascot has been featured throughout the dashboard, serving as a student guide. Acting as a friendly face and animated to aid with engagement, the mascot also appears when a rainfall meeting has been successfully submitted.
