Case Study: KidBiz Lexile Tracker for Achieve3000

This was a project where we took an existing feature called the Lexile Tracker that we released for the product aimed at older students and redesigned it for Achieve3000’s KidBiz product which was aimed at younger students.

We conducted discovery interviews with four teachers and two interviews with internal implementation members.

Following each interview, we would always do a quick debrief and talk about key take-aways, patterns and if there’s anything we needed to change for the next interview.

Once all the interviews were completed, I started designing wireframes using the previous designs I had done for the existing Lexile Tracker for older students. Using the feedback we had received I tweaked the design to make it appropriate for the younger students. After I had a design to show we met again, and I walked through the designs. I went through a few iterations based on internal feedback. I then sent the final version to the product manager who added it to the future roadmap.

Interview Notes

Here were some of my personal notes from the interviews. I have omitted the names of the participants for privacy.

Participant #1

• Student's wouldn't be confused with everything being presented.

• Likes the milestones.

• Thinks it would be good if it was tucked away.

Participant #2

• Does think tracking Lexile is important.

• Lexile Tracker will motivate teachers to become engaged.

• Doesn't know if the student's will get the initial growth path.

• Maybe more explanation for the milestones.

• Doesn't have any issues with all the information displayed.

• 70% of students are aware of their Lexile and graph it.

Participant #3

• 70% of students are aware of their Lexile and graph it.

• Thinks is very important for students to track their Lexile.

• Thinks it would be nice if the Lexile Tracker would be out front and center (Doesn't have any concerns with having it on the homepage).

• Thinks that the Expected and Initial Growth path lines could be confusing.

• Thinks the Lexile adjustment dots are fine.

• Differentiate the Expected and Initial Growth Paths a little more with color (Maybe make the color of the Expected growth path the same green as the Growth Path or lighter green, lower opacity).

• Maybe leave initial growth path out.

• Likes Career Goal Lexile, thinks the other Milestones are too much for 3rd graders.

• Keep Career Goal Lexile and CCR Band.

• Likes defaulting it off and let them toggle it on.

• Maybe have a button in the My Stats section where they can go to the LT or under Resources as a link.

Participant #4

• Is important for students to track their Lexile.

• Change the Lexile adjustment dots to the students avatar?

• Doesn't need Initial Growth Path.

• Keep the CCR band.

• Take out milestones and Career Goal Lexile.

• Put it in the space between My States and the Notifications box.

• Maybe either make it a click in or hide it when they login.

Participant #5

• 3rd & 4th grade students have a lot awareness of Lexile level.

• Extremely important for them to track their Lexile level.

• Very motivated by tracking Lexile level.

• Would leave out the Milestones.

• Put the Lexile Tracker on the homepage, thinks it would be more motivating to put it front and center.

Participant #5

• Wants to see the Lexile adjustments above the adjustment dots (not a good idea).

• Thinks it would be under Resources.

• Doesn't need the Lexile Milestones for 3rd graders, thinks it's more relevant for 5th Grade and older.

• Set their own goal (Would be hard from a technical standpoint).