Esikidz Teacher App
The Problem
As the number of subscriptions grows, the Teacher Web App no longer meets the needs of teachers when it comes to efficiently recording daily tasks. One significant drawback is the absence of notifications for reminders and messages from parents, leading to potential missing replies and important updates.
Moreover, the lack of a mobile responsive version adds to the inconvenience. Without a user-friendly interface optimized for mobile devices, teachers face difficulties in accessing and using the app conveniently.
To overcome these limitations, a more effective solution is required to enable streamlined task management and seamless communication between teachers and parents.
The Team
- Product Manager - Dean
- UI UX Designer - Carina
- Tech Lead - Billy
- Developer - Jonas
- Developer - Ying
- Developer - Yanni
The Goal
The primary goal is to address the issues present in the current web portal. In addition to this, there is a need to restructure and reorganize the existing features.
Research
Based on the support and valuable input from our marketing team, we proactively conducted interviews and questionnaires to identify the pain points and critical features of the original Web App. Here are the key insights we gathered from the feedback:
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Teachers expressed concerns about not receiving messages and reminders in a timely manner.
Teacher Feedback 1: There is no notification reminding me when I am busy with my classroom daily duty...
Teacher Feedback 2: Sending Message and Receiving Message is not on the same page...
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Teachers desired a user-friendly interface that allows easy access to all features without the need to switch back and forth.
Teacher Feedback 1: Switching page takes time... And we really need do that frequently...
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The process of checking attendance was found to be difficult and not user-friendly.
These insights have provided us with valuable information to improve the functionality and usability of the Web App for teachers.
Teacher Feedback 1: Morning is always the busiest time, checking attendance process can be as quick as possible...
Teacher Feedback 2: Sometimes parents ask relatives to pick up the child then we need call and confirm with the parents at that time...
Solutions and Iteration
Designing Three Sections for Various Management Scenarios
Taking into consideration the diverse daily management practices observed in daycare centres, I have devised three distinct perspectives. These sections aim to cater to the specific needs of daycare centres when it comes to their routine management and even during summer camps.
- Checking Attendance at the daycare centre entrance after the school bus arrives
- Daycare centre daily management routine including recording child's activities, writing report, uploading photos, adding future activity calendars.
- Summer camp registration and child attendance management.
Addressing Teacher Fatigue in Activity Recording
Through our research, it became evident that teachers often face exhaustion from repeatedly navigating between pages to log children's activities. To remedy this challenge, I've introduced a dynamic switching bar within the 'Classroom Management' section. This innovative feature empowers teachers to effortlessly drag and tap their preferred activity choices, streamlining the process of activity selection.
Center - Parent Communication (Daily Activities, Photo Uploads, Activity Calendar)
The primary objective of the app is to facilitate consistent communication between parents and their children in the daycare centre.
With the aim of simplifying teachers' daily tasks, I've implemented a consistent user experience that assists teachers in documenting these activities.
1. Select
- A multiple-select child list feature is implemented to enable teachers to record activities for multiple children simultaneously.
2. Record
- Record activities ( Time - Category - Notes )
Group Attendance Check & Confirm Child's Check in/out Request
Senario #1:
When children participate in the before or after school program and are transported by the school bus, teachers are required to manage the check-in and check-out processes for multiple children simultaneously.
(This is a requirement raised by 80% of existing users to manage their before and after school program.)
To address this challenge, I've introduced a batch check-in/check-out feature. This innovation enables teachers to efficiently handle these tasks in a streamlined manner, enhancing overall efficiency.
- Only children with the same statuses can be grouped together to perform the same action.
- Teachers can view parents' requests and carry out subsequent actions accordingly.
- For special conditions, teacher also can check in/out for child. (Select teacher under relationship options.)
AI Polisher - Help Teacher to Write Better Content
Problem:
Based on the research and feedback we received, daycare centre managers often express concerns about the report writing abilities of teachers. They mention a lack of professionalism and consistent grammar mistakes.
I've incorporated a button into all text input areas that aids in enhancing content quality by addressing grammar, phrasing, and tone. Additionally, I've introduced our custom AI robot character to elevate the user experience.(See AI Feature in Esikidz Admin)
- By tapping the AI Polisher button, content can be effortlessly refined.
- I've taken inspiration from the letter 'e' to represent 'Esikidz' and designed a robot character to serve as the Esikidz AI Assistant.
e
Challenges
We successfully implemented the feature by utilizing the OpenAI API, but encountered certain challenges during the testing phase. Our primary goal for the AI Polisher was to enhance the content while preserving its original meaning. However, we encountered instances where the AI's creativity led to the addition of extra content, occasionally altering the intended meaning of the original text.
Tests and Alternation
I collaborated closely with the developers, dedicating an entire week to rigorously test the functionality. Additionally, I conducted meetings involving 20 teachers from our test centre. During these sessions, we collectively evaluated the feature by inputting diverse types of content.
Advancements and Challenges in Functionality
After exhaustive testing and taking into account feedback from our current users, we are pleased to confirm the successful operation of the function. It's reassuring that we encountered minimal errors or instances of misleading content.
Our stakeholders are now contemplating enhancing the feature's capabilities. Specifically, they are exploring the idea of allowing users to input just a few words separated by commas, which would then be transformed into complete paragraphs. However, it's important to note that this approach could introduce uncertainty in terms of maintaining the intended content meaning. This might pose issues if teachers start relying heavily on the system and inadvertently overlook the content's accuracy.
We Released the Beta Version For Testing
Feedbacks
We launched the beta version, making it accessible to the teachers in our testing center for hands-on use of all the implemented functions. The feedback received has been overwhelmingly positive, with the majority of the features functioning seamlessly. Teachers have expressed their appreciation, noting that these tools are highly beneficial for effective classroom management.
New Enhancement
Teacher:
"We have multiple shifts throughout the day, and it's important for me to stay informed about the classroom activities that occurred before I take over my shift."
Centre Manager:
"Even though I have a multitude of tasks to attend to, it's crucial for me to keep track of classroom activities and remind the teachers. However, there are instances when I end up forgetting due to the workload."
Design and Iteration
Taking into account the feedback and the needs of the centers, I've developed a preliminary concept for a Classroom Note feature. This feature aims to assist teachers in effectively recording classroom activities during their shifts. Subsequently, I created a survey to elaborate on this idea and distributed it to 56 existing centers. Remarkably, 47 of these centers responded, with over 85% of them expressing positive sentiments towards the proposed concept.
