Should ParentView Be a Unique View or a Mirror of StudentView?

[Jose-Alarcon1]

Discussion: Should ParentView Be a Unique View or a Mirror of StudentView?

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Context

We are planning to introduce a ParentView for LessonConnect, giving parents visibility into their child's learning activity. The goal is to determine the best structural approach for this feature:

1. Create a standalone ParentView
2. Mirror the existing StudentView but filter data appropriately

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Option 1: Unique ParentView

Pros:

• Tailored UI/UX specifically for parental needs
• Can include features like:
  • Progress reports
  • Messages from tutors
  • Session summaries
  • Attendance insights
• Cleaner long-term scaling (no cross-role entanglement)

Cons:

• More development overhead
• Duplicated components (some UI overlap with StudentView)
• Needs separate backend access control

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Option 2: Mirror StudentView (Read-Only/Filtered)

Pros:

• Faster to implement (reuse StudentView layout and components)
• Leverages existing functionality
• Parent sees exactly what their student sees, filtered for relevance

Cons:

• May expose too much detail (e.g., student tools like timers, chat, etc.)
• Can feel clunky or too “student-oriented”
• More conditional rendering logic based on user role

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❓ Key Questions for the Team

• Should parents have access to interactive features (e.g., messaging or appointment booking)?
• Should the visual design reflect their unique role (e.g., reports-focused vs. tools-focused)?
• Are there any backend limitations to supporting a filtered StudentView?

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Let us know what you think:

• Which option do you prefer: Standalone ParentView or Mirrored StudentView?
• Any specific features you'd expect as a parent?
• Concerns about privacy, permissions, or UX?