Phonics Friends

design for tablet

Screens for Phonics Friends.

An Enhanced Learning Experience for Children with Auditory Dyslexia.

Over seven weeks, I teamed up with three other product designers to address the lack of effective educational tools for young children with learning disabilities. We focused on improving phonemic awareness in 3 to 5-year-olds with auditory dyslexia through a tailored learning experience. Our multi-modal solution includes a specialized book, interactive pen, and digital app that students use altogether. We tested our prototypes with two elementary students and one teacher assistant to gather feedback, which we used to refine our products.

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project type

Academic Project

role

Product Designer — Responsible for conducting interviews, crafting surveys, desktop research, prototyping screens, logo & branding, and shared final designs.

timeline

April 2024 - May 2024 (7 weeks)

team

Arthur Jensen (Me), Michelle Cheng, Celia Choi & Ryn Rangel

problem

Young students with auditory dyslexia are facing challenges in the classroom due to fast-paced curriculum, digtial tools that fail to provide immediate feedback. There is a lack of educational resources designed to meet the varied needs of these young learners.

solution

Our goal is to help children with auditory dyslexia improve their reading skills and auditory processing abilities. We created a specialized book with lessons and storytelling, an interactive pen to provide auditory learning, and a digital app for reviewing the materials.

impact

Our products were presented and tested by two elementary school students from San Fernando, California. These two students showed enthusiasm to use the products in the future.

introduction

Aligning as a team and focusing on solving a problem in early education

Imagine you’re an elementary school teacher who feels frustrated as you watch your students struggle to keep up. You have a meager budget of only $100 for the entire school year, and you know that the supplies and resources provided by the school are insufficient. It pains you to think that your students may not reach their full potential due to these limitations, compounded by the diminishing enthusiasm for learning among them. As the time approaches for test scores to be released, you feel anxious, knowing that you are doing your best to teach despite the lack of resources available.

interviews

We Interviewed Four Teachers to Gain Insight Into Challenges Children Face in the Classroom

Aligned on discovering issues in early education, my team initiated separate research efforts. To understand the obstacles young students face, I interviewed four elementary school teachers. These teachers work in the San Fernando and Antelope Valley. Speaking directly with these teachers gave us valuable insights into their experiences. Below are three key takeaways about the challenges they encounter in the classroom.

"The curriculum moves too quickly not taking into consideration learning modalities...this means that the curriculum has to be broken down into parts."

Jackie Walsh

ILEAD Schools

"There are many digital resources available, but very few give immediate feedback to correct student mistakes. This leads to students mindlessly clicking through an app."

Diana Uribe

LAUSD Schools

“In general, I believe that digital tools can be valuable, but in moderation with other modalities of learning such as hands on learning, traditional paper and pencil assignments, etc.”

Maria Hernandez

LAUSD Schools

1. Fast-Paced Curriculum means that some students are left behind
Teachers face significant challenges in helping students learn a complex curriculum while meeting educational standards and preventing them from falling behind. Breaking down the curriculum into manageable parts allows students to focus on one aspect at a time, ensuring they fully understand the material before progressing.

2. Many Digital Educational Tools do not provide Immediate Feedback
When talking to teachers , we realized that leaning should not be confined to digital tools. Learning involves many types of modalities people these students are engaging with the material in different ways which can fill in learning gaps.

3. Using Multiple Platforms can result in loss of time and energy
‍Children enjoy learning from stories because it combines visuals and words together. Repetition helps students learn and memorize certain things.

We then Asked Teachers what are some strategies they use to keep students engaged and caught up

Once the team had a shared desire to help educators, we began conducting research. I spoke with four teachers from different elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley and Palmdale to better understand the common challenges they and their students with neurodivergence are facing.

Lorem Ipsum

insight

Incorporating Repetitive Storytelling Keeps Students Engaged

One teacher sated that “kids like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.” Children enjoy learning from stories because it combines visuals and words together. Repetition helps students learn and memorize certain things.

insight

Multi-Modal Learning Experiences Fill Learning Gaps

One teacher says, “in general, I believe that digital tools can be valuable, but in moderation with other modalities of learning (e.g., hands on learning, traditional paper and pencil assignments, etc.).” Students should engage with the material in different ways which can fill in learning gaps.

insight

Multi-Sensory Learning Experiences Helps Students With Neurodivergence

Particularly, for Neurodivergent students, it is important to introduce educational material that caters to to the senses. Teachers try to incorporate learning material involving visual, auditory, and tactile information so neurodivergent students can use their senses.

desktop research

We conducted desktop Research to learn more about the needs of Students with Auditory Dyslexia

Once the team had a shared desire to help educators, we began conducting research. I spoke with four teachers from different elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley and Palmdale to better understand the common challenges they and their students with neurodivergence are facing.

Types of Dyslexia

There are three types types of dyslexia: auditory, visual and tactile.

Structured Synthetic Phonics

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

competitive analysis

We wanted to see what are some successful products on the market that catered to students with neurodivergence

Once the team had a shared desire to help educators, we began conducting research. I spoke with four teachers from different elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley and Palmdale to better understand the common challenges they and their students with neurodivergence are facing.

insight

We noticed that...

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

competitive analysis

We also looked at digital products that were successful at educating their users

Once the team had a shared desire to help educators, we began conducting research. I spoke with four teachers from different elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley and Palmdale to better understand the common challenges they and their students with neurodivergence are facing.

ideation

How might we help support children aged 5-7 with auditory dyslexia by helping them process and distinguish sounds?

Once the team had a shared desire to help educators, we began conducting research. I spoke with four teachers from different elementary schools in the San Fernando.

Concept 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps.

Concept 2: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps.

Concept 3: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps.

design process

Defining our Multimodal Approach to Help Students improve their Phonemic Awareness

Imagine you’re an elementary school teacher who feels frustrated as you watch your students struggle to keep up. You have a meager budget of only $100 for the entire school year, and you know that the supplies and resources provided by the school are insufficient. It pains you to think that your students may not reach their full potential due to these limitations, compounded by the diminishing enthusiasm for learning among them. As the time approaches for test scores to be released, you feel anxious, knowing that you are doing your best to teach despite the lack of resources available.

BOOK

You have a meager budget of only $100 for the entire school year, and you know that the supplies and resources provided by the school are insufficient. It pains you to think that your students may not reach their full potential due to these limitations, compounded by the diminis

interactive pen

You have a meager budget of only $100 for the entire school year, and you know that the supplies and resources provided by the school are insufficient. It pains you to think that your students may not reach their full potential due to these limitations, compounded by the diminis

digital app

You have a meager budget of only $100 for the entire school year, and you know that the supplies and resources provided by the school are insufficient. It pains you to think that your students may not reach their full potential due to these limitations, compounded by the diminis

prototyping

Creating Low-Fidelity Prototypes of our Physical and Digital Learning Experience

Imagine you’re an elementary school teacher who feels frustrated as you watch your students struggle to keep up. You have a meager budget of only $100 for the entire school year, and you know that the supplies and resources provided by the school are insufficient. It pains you to think that your students may not reach their full potential due to these limitations, compounded by the diminishing enthusiasm for learning among them. As the time approaches for test scores to be released, you feel anxious, knowing that you are doing your best to teach despite the lack of resources available.

Book

Learning Phonics through Storytelling and Tactile Textures

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

interactive pen

Hearing Phonic Sounds by tapping

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

digital app

Reviewing Lessons through gamified learning

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

Heuristic evaluation

Receiving Feedback on our Prototypes from a Cognitive Psychologist & Stakeholders

Imagine you’re an elementary school teacher who feels frustrated as you watch your students struggle to keep up. You have a meager budget of only $100 for the entire school year, and you know that the supplies and resources provided by the school are insufficient. It pains you to think that your students may not reach their full potential due to these limitations, compounded by the diminishing enthusiasm for learning among them. As the time approaches for test scores to be released, you feel anxious, knowing that you are doing your best to teach despite the lack of resources available.

insight

Correcting Storyline Details that may be Unsuitable for children

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

insight

Incorporating Movement and Behavioral Modeling

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

insight

Ensuring Clear Language Consistency & Removing Background Noise

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

testing with students

We tested with two students from an elementary school to gain better feedback on our design

Imagine you’re an elementary school teacher who feels frustrated as you watch your students struggle to keep up. You have a meager budget of only $100 for the entire school year, and you know that the supplies and resources provided by the school are insufficient. It pains you to think that your students may not reach their full potential due to these limitations, compounded by the diminishing enthusiasm for learning among them. As the time approaches for test scores to be released, you feel anxious, knowing that you are doing your best to teach despite the lack of resources available.

High-fidelity

Phonics Friends: Final Features

Once the team had a shared desire to help educators, we began conducting research. I spoke with four teachers from different elementary schools in the San Fernando.

Feature 1

Correcting Storyline Details that may be Unsuitable for children

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

feature 2

Incorporating Movement and Behavioral Modeling

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

feature 3

Ensuring Clear Language Consistency & Removing Background Noise

Quote 1: “Kids also like short stories and picture books. Repetition helps. We use a lot of flannel stories to help students stay engaged.”

reflection

We tested with two students from an elementary school to gain better feedback on our design

Imagine you’re an elementary school teacher who feels frustrated as you watch your students struggle to keep up. You have a meager budget of only $100 for the entire school year, and you know that the supplies and resources provided by the school are insufficient. It pains you to think that your students may not reach their full potential due to these limitations, compounded by the diminishing enthusiasm for learning among them. As the time approaches for test scores to be released, you feel anxious, knowing that you are doing your best to teach despite the lack of resources available.

Let’s make something great together!

Let’s make something great together!