CONTEXT
Invention Corps at Berkeley x Goodnotes Designathon
In this all day design sprint, we were challenged to rethink how technology can play a role in the classroom. We explored how Goodnotes Classroom, a platform designed for educators and young students, can foster a balanced relationship with technology in a classroom space.
MY CONTRIBUTIONS
→ Led market and competitor research
→ Built mobile app prototype
The Solution
FINAL DESIGNS
Goodnotes Classroom View: bridging the physical and digital classrooms
We introduced Classroom View, an intelligent dashboard that maps digital progress onto the physical classroom layout.
Key Decisions
DEEP DIVE #1
How should students engage with classroom tech?
Digital tools can often shift focus away from teachers and towards the technology.
We challenged ourselves to redefine the classroom experience by leveraging Goodnotes Classroom to empower student-teacher interaction.
Why teacher to student collaboration?
Early in the discovery phase, we explored three potential avenues of classroom collaboration:
Teacher to teacher
Resource sharing and curriculum alignment
Student to teacher
Peer engagement and social learning
Teacher to student
Real-time intervention and personalized feedback
Our research suggested that the most critical pain point was the friction between a teacher's instruction and a student’s immediate understanding.
By focusing on teacher to student collaboration, we saw an opportunity to transform a top-down relationship into a dynamic, collaborative relationship.
Through competitor analysis and user interviews, we identified a significant emotional and functional divide in the classroom:
Teachers were looking for…
Ways to better understand student progress
Students were looking for…
Ways to engage in the classroom without fear
We used real-time feedback loops to improve learning outcomes.
DEEP DIVE #2
How can we highlight learning needs quickly and accurately?
Our dynamic filtering system surfaces learning needs by categorizing students according customizable metrics, providing a list of prioritized students.
By reducing the teacher’s cognitive load, we allow for quick, targeted assistance.
Making classroom management simple
Every educator has their own teaching style.
Our added features provide a way to extensively customize the class overview, meaning less time is spent on administrative work, and more time is spent connecting with students.
DEEP DIVE #3
How can we facilitate in-class collaboration?
The automated grouping engine parses student performance data to suggest balanced teams.
As opposed to a random, time-consuming grouping process, by pairing "experts" with "learners" based on real-time accuracy data, the system fosters equitable and self-sustaining peer-to-peer mentorship.
Facilitating classroom connection using live data
Each student has their own learning style.
Given a thorough understanding of each learner, groupings can be created strategically, leading to fruitful conversations and improved learning outcomes.
DEEP DIVE #4
How can we bridge the physical and digital spaces?
The "Classroom View" mirrors the physical layout of the room so that educators can efficiently navigate the digital progress of their students.
Contextualized notifications alert teachers to specific groups in need. Rather than uninformative alerts, the UI provides granular insights, meaning the teacher can walk over with valuable context already in mind.
Inspired by restaurant table management systems!
With a powerful digital tool like Goodnotes, we wanted to find a way to seamlessly integrate it into the teaching process without drawing too much attention away from the classroom space.
By guiding teacher walkthroughs, we can facilitate more classroom conversations.
Reflection
Implementing AI as a tool, not a replacement
One of my biggest lessons was how to leverage AI to empower rather than automate. The best ed-tech designs don't replace the teacher, they empower them to facilitate effective learning.
Designing for emotional needs
Design should always be intentional, especially when designing for the education space. Creating a welcoming experience involves listening to the users to understand their emotions and behaviors.
