How to Build a Smart Study Group Scheduler with Time Zone Support

Simple Summary

Build a smart study group scheduler with time zone support to streamline collaboration for global learners.

Product Requirements Document (PRD)

Goals:

• Develop a user-friendly study group scheduling application
• Implement intelligent time zone management for global users
• Facilitate easy course enrollment and group formation
• Provide robust scheduling and notification features

Target Audience:

• Students in online or distance learning programs
• International study groups
• Educational institutions offering global courses

Key Features:

• User registration and profile management
• Course enrollment system
• Study group creation and management
• Intelligent scheduling with time zone support
• Notification system for reminders and updates
• Integration with popular calendar applications

User Requirements:

• Intuitive interface for easy navigation
• Responsive design for mobile and desktop use
• Secure user authentication and data protection
• Ability to view and join existing study groups
• Option to create custom study sessions

User Flows

1. User Registration and Course Enrollment:

   • User signs up for an account
   • Completes profile with time zone information
   • Browses available courses
   • Enrolls in desired courses

2. Study Group Creation and Scheduling:

   • User creates a new study group for a course
   • Invites other enrolled students
   • Proposes meeting times
   • System adjusts times for each member's time zone
   • Members confirm availability
   • Schedule is finalized and added to calendars

3. Session Attendance and Progress Tracking:

   • User receives reminder notification
   • Joins virtual study session
   • Participates in group discussion or activities
   • Marks session as completed
   • Views personal progress and group statistics

Technical Specifications

• Frontend: React with Material-UI for responsive design
• Backend: Node.js with Express.js
• Database: PostgreSQL for relational data storage
• Authentication: JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for secure user sessions
• Time Zone Handling: Moment.js or Luxon library
• Calendar Integration: Google Calendar API and iCal support
• Real-time Communication: Socket.io for instant updates
• Cloud Hosting: AWS or Heroku for scalability
• Version Control: Git with GitHub for collaborative development

API Endpoints

• POST /api/auth/register
• POST /api/auth/login
• GET /api/courses
• POST /api/courses/enroll
• GET /api/groups
• POST /api/groups/create
• PUT /api/groups/:id/schedule
• GET /api/users/calendar
• POST /api/sessions/attend
• GET /api/progress

Database Schema

Users:

• id (PK)
• username
• email
• password_hash
• timezone
• created_at

Courses:

• id (PK)
• title
• description
• instructor_id (FK to Users)

Enrollments:

• id (PK)
• user_id (FK to Users)
• course_id (FK to Courses)

StudyGroups:

• id (PK)
• course_id (FK to Courses)
• creator_id (FK to Users)
• name
• description

GroupMembers:

• id (PK)
• group_id (FK to StudyGroups)
• user_id (FK to Users)

Sessions:

• id (PK)
• group_id (FK to StudyGroups)
• start_time
• end_time
• description

Attendance:

• id (PK)
• session_id (FK to Sessions)
• user_id (FK to Users)
• status

File Structure

Implementation Plan

1. Project Setup (1 week)

   • Initialize React project with Create React App
   • Set up Node.js backend with Express
   • Configure PostgreSQL database
   • Implement basic project structure

2. Authentication System (1 week)

   • Develop user registration and login APIs
   • Implement JWT authentication
   • Create frontend forms for signup and login

3. Course Management (1 week)

   • Build course listing and enrollment features
   • Develop course detail pages
   • Implement user dashboard for enrolled courses

4. Study Group Functionality (2 weeks)

   • Create group creation and management features
   • Develop group joining mechanism
   • Implement group chat or discussion board

5. Scheduling System (2 weeks)

   • Build scheduling algorithm with time zone support
   • Implement calendar integration
   • Develop notification system for reminders

6. Session and Progress Tracking (1 week)

   • Create session attendance tracking
   • Implement progress visualization
   • Develop reporting features for users and groups

7. Testing and Refinement (1 week)

   • Conduct thorough testing of all features
   • Gather user feedback and make necessary adjustments
   • Optimize performance and fix any bugs

8. Deployment and Launch (1 week)

   • Set up production environment
   • Deploy application to chosen cloud platform
   • Perform final checks and launch the application

Deployment Strategy

1. Choose a cloud provider (AWS, Heroku, or DigitalOcean)
2. Set up a production database instance with regular backups
3. Configure environment variables for sensitive information
4. Implement a CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions or GitLab CI
5. Use Docker containers for consistent deployment across environments
6. Set up SSL certificates for secure HTTPS connections
7. Implement load balancing for high availability
8. Configure monitoring and logging (e.g., ELK stack or Datadog)
9. Establish a rollback strategy for quick recovery if issues arise
10. Create a staging environment for pre-production testing

Design Rationale

The application is designed with a focus on user experience and global accessibility. React is chosen for the frontend to create a responsive and interactive UI, while Node.js provides a scalable backend. PostgreSQL offers robust data management for complex relationships between users, courses, and groups.

The time zone support is crucial for the global nature of the application, hence the use of specialized libraries. JWT authentication ensures secure access, and the modular file structure allows for easy maintenance and scalability.

The implementation plan is phased to allow for iterative development and testing, ensuring each component is robust before moving to the next. The deployment strategy emphasizes scalability and reliability, critical for an education-focused application serving users across different time zones.