Context
Level Learning is a K-12 literacy platform with a digital library of 1000+ books, and Mandarin teachers weren't using the books in the digital library.
I want to understand why and design solutions to increase engagement.
Role
Product Designer
Tools
Figma · Google Suites · Zoom
Duration
80 hours
Responsibilities
User Research · User Testing · Wireframes · Prototype
THE PROBLEM
Business Problem
They have access to the digital library but weren't using it.
Root Cause
Mandarin teachers preferred physical books.
Physical books where teachers can see student thinking with annotation
Current digital books only allow teachers to see the end result
WHY DO TEACHERS PREFER PHYSICAL BOOKS?
Mandarin teachers couldn't see HOW students read, but only WHAT they completed.
What Teachers Actually NEED
“
Having the annotation feature can help me understand what the students are thinking, and is easy for me to use it to show learning progress."
S. Zhang, 2nd grade Mandarin teacher
User Interviews
METHOD
5 Mandarin teachers: friction in using digital library
3 English teachers: effective literacy instruction
INSIGHTS
Quizzes don't reveal student thinking
Annotation is essential to literacy instruction
We now know the why, then…
WHAT SHOULD I BUILD FIRST?
Teachers valued SEEING annotations over students CREATING them.
*All quotes translated from Mandarin to English. Original interviews conducted in Mandarin.
“
Being able to annotate is good, but I won't be able to see what they highlight…it would only be helpful if I am able to see what they annotate.”
K. Liu, 5th grade Mandarin teacher
“
The annotations need to be checked by teachers, otherwise it just becomes a drawing tool, then it wouldn't be as helpful.”
S. Dalton, 3rd grade Mandarin teacher
Based on research, I identified two gaps in the digital library.
Annotation tools
(giving students tools to annotate)
VS
Annotation collection
(giving teachers insight to student thinking)
Neither feature is valuable without the other.
Students need tools to annotate. Teachers need to see those annotations.
HMW
How might we enable teachers to view student annotations directly on digital books to understand their thinking?
KEY DESIGN DECISIONS
01
Reducing User Friction
Add annotation viewing to current digital book flow
✓ Fits existing mental model
✓ Faster access
✗ Implementation Uncertainty
Other option explored:
Create dedicated annotation pages
✓ Purpose-built, clean experience
✗ New navigation to learn
✗ Extra steps to access
Accessing annotation on where teacher currently have access to students' reading history
Adding annotation to the existing story page where teachers can currently view quiz results
Rejected: Dedicated annotation pages
02
Support Text + Audio Annotations
Drawing on 10 years of language teaching experience, I designed flexible viewing where teachers can read text OR listen to audio.
“
I like the option of voice and written memo. This will help my lower students who can't write in Chinese yet."
A. Yao, Kindergarten Mandarin teacher
Students express thinking orally before they can write fluently.
Having text and voice options helps teachers collect and understand student thinking, no matter the format.
Voice Annotation
Text Annotation
THE SOLUTION
Helping Teachers See Student Thinking in Digital Reading
New feature integrated into existing workflow
