UCSB Alumni David Friermor and Jordan Townsend launched the interactive website ClassWave for students to instantly share lecture notes, study guides and hold discussions about assigned readings.

Friermor and Townsend collaborated with Cal Poly alumnus Andrew Cox last year to develop ClassWave — formerly known as Schoolbook — to help individuals connect with people in their classes. The website has accumulated roughly 200 members on its platforms for Cal Poly and UCSB since its launch last Friday and is looking to expand to over 50 college campuses.

According to Friermor, CEO of the site, ClassWave provides tools for students to collaborate and study more efficiently.

“With the new hikes in tuition, it’s important now more than ever to get the most out of your education and not have to retake classes or stay an extra year for college,” Friermor said.

“That’s why it’s important [that students are] able to connect with classmates.”

Students sign up for the site through their Facebook accounts and gain access to a similar newsfeed centered on posts related to the user’s classes. The site also distinguishes itself from other networking programs through its focus on collaboration between classmates rather than friends, Friermor said.

Although some professors have expressed concerned that the website’s ability to upload Word documents such as study guides and PowerPoint slides may encourage cheating, Friermor said strict monitoring and policy enforcement will prevent such situations.

President and Marketing Director Townsend said some professors have supported the site for its ability to facilitate academic cooperation among students.

“Professors usually encourage classmates to talk to each other,” Townsend said. “ClassWave just makes it easier to collaborate ideas and receive constructive criticism.”

According to Friermor, Associated Students President Harrison Weber, CLAS and several professors helped develop the program’s preventive measures. Second-year literature major Tara Fatimi said ClassWave could potentially assist students in managing their studies.

“It looks like it could be really helpful with scheduling classes and getting notes for the days you miss lecture,” Fatimi said. “But [ClassWave’s success] depends on how many students sign up for it.”

During the first week of school, representative from ClassWave will hand out ping pong balls, fliers and stickers in the Arbor.

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