FreeShare
Undergraduate and graduate students, who frequently move between dorms, apartments, and homes regularly need to furnish new living spaces, and they are always seeking affordable or free textbooks and other study materials. International students, in particular, arrive at university and need to quickly acquire essential items to settle into their new environment; when their studies conclude, they also need to easily offload items before returning home.
Motivation
Undergraduate and graduate students, who frequently move between dorms, apartments, and homes regularly need to furnish new living spaces, and they are always seeking affordable or free textbooks and other study materials. International students, in particular, arrive at university and need to quickly acquire essential items to settle into their new environment; when their studies conclude, they also need to easily offload items before returning home.
What is it?
The FreeShare App is a free, secure platform that facilitates the university community's exchange of items like books and furniture. It promotes sustainability, reduces waste, and connects individuals looking to give away or find items, especially at the end of academic terms. The app ensures a safe, transparent experience through user communication, arrangement of pick-up/delivery, and a rating system. Moreover, when uploading images of each item to be shared, the app uses AI to easily add information about materials.
How does it work?
The FreeShare App is intended as a furniture and book exchange tool, allowing university community members to distribute items they no longer need. Users can search for required items by type, size, and other characteristics, arranging pickups or drop-offs that fit their schedules. When uploading an item, users provide an image, description, and the time and area where the item will be available for pickup. Once a user accepts a request, they can share the specific location for the pickup with the recipient. The app’s interface facilitates smooth communication among users, enabling efficient hand-offs. After receiving items, students can leave reviews and ratings to inform others about their experiences.
Features
Tutor Profiles
- Tutors can create a profile showcasing credentials, qualifications, experience, subjects mastered, courses taught, education details, reviews and ratings, and a photo and/or video introduction
- Flexible profile creation wizard for optimized visibility
- Ability to highlight key subjects, achievements, test scores, and certifications
- Direct university email verification for enrolled status
Tutor Listings
- Self-serve tutor availability listing builder with date and time slots control
- Custom package building (e.g., 5 piano lessons @ $50 total)
- Recurring availability setting for routine slots like weekly help
- Real-time calendar sync reflecting booked sessions
- Tutor manages availability publishing control
Discoverability & Matching
- Advance search and filters for tutees by subject, availability, tutor rating, and pricing
- Browse listings by peak periods like midterms, finals, or exams
- Location-based listings prioritization for campus proximity
- Learner preference-based recommendations
Admin & Ops
- Tutor vetting and screening workflows based on credentials
- Medal and badges benchmark program pathway to incent activity
- Fraud detection mechanisms and blocks
Built with
React is utilized for the front end of Theo, providing a responsive and dynamic user interface that enhances the browsing and interaction experience for both tutors and tutees, ensuring smooth navigation and seamless accessibility to the platform's features.