To-Mo-To
Course: Introduction to Human Computer Interaction
Duration: 4 Months
A language learning platform that enables remote language instructors to create engaging and interactive activities for young children.
Project Details
MY ROLE
I worked on this project in a cross-disciplinary team as a UX Researcher and a UX/UI Designer.
DELIVERABLES
User personas, low-fidelity wireframes, high fidelity prototype
TOOLS
Figma, Canva
Problem Space
The preservation of native languages is an integral part of maintaining cultural identities.
For immigrant families, it is especially important to pass on the legacy of their culture and language onto their children.
The transition from in-person learning to online learning has made parents and instructors desperate for a new way to keep their children and students engaged.
The Solution
The creation of a platform that allows language instructors to create engaging online and offline activities, while parents are assured that their children grow up learning their mother tongue.
User Research
Research Methods
Preliminary research and personal experience.
Interview with 3 online language instructors.
Interview with 3 parents.
Key Findings
Parents have limited access to respective linguistic communities.
There is a lack of high quality technologies that support native languages.
Parents and teachers are concerned about keeping their children and students engaged and focused.
There is a need for online resources that can replicate online interactions.
User Personas
Maria Miranda, 39
Project Manager
THE PARENT
“My busy schedule does not allow me to spend enough time interacting with my child in our native language.”
FRUSTRATIONS
Incorporating her native language into the everyday life of her daughter.
Has limited access to linguistic communities.
NEEDS
To spend more time with her daughter.
To pass along Farsi traditions to her daughter.
James Moore, 47
French Instructor
THE INSTRUCTOR
“I am passionate about teaching French, but there are very few tools that make it easy to teach toddlers.”
FRUSTRATIONS
Keeping toddlers engaged for more than 20 minutes is difficult.
There is a lack of high quality resources for less commonly taught languages.
NEEDS
Needs a tool that makes it easier to teach toddlers.
Wants to create activities to grasp attention of toddlers.
High Fidelity Wireframes
Click here to view the interactive prototype.
Usability Study
After translating our paper prototype into a high fidelity prototype, we conducted a usability study that included both user interviews and usability testing.
User Interviews
Interview with 3 online language instructors about:
Experience teaching toddlers.
Challenges when teaching online.
Engaging toddlers in activities.
Application usage.
Usability Testing
Parents have limited access to respective linguistic communities.
There is a lack of high quality technologies that support native languages.
Parents and teachers are concerned about keeping their children and students engaged and focused.
There is a need for online resources that can replicate online interactions.
Key Findings
Identified Problems
Separate audio icon confused toddlers.
Accurately clicking on icons was challenging for younger toddlers (age 3).
Activity was too easy for older toddlers (age 6).
What Worked
Children found the activity to be fun.
Parents found it easy to to use and learn.
They liked that the images used had the right balance of between realism and animation for the children.
Future Improvements
Add more engaging activities for toddlers.
Add difficulty levels for activities.
Include an option for instructors and students to engage simultaneously.