Tiny Translator
Mobile App Design
Translation app for students families and teachers
Context
The growing influx of newcomers from around the world into public school systems has left a need for a tool that enables students and school staff to communicate effectively.
Goals
Increase accessibility at school
Build communication skills for kids
Personalize learning experience
Participants
Elementary students (3rd - 5th Grade) who have experienced adversity in communication at school.
Elementary teachers who work directly with students.
Role
UX/UI Design
Timeline
3 weeks
December 2024 - January 2025
Skills
User Research
Wireframing and prototyping
UI Design
Style guide
Component design
Problem
Multi Language Learners STRUGGLE with comprehension and communication in their early years of school.
Students need a way to make sense of grade level content while simultaneously practicing a new language. Despite teachers intentionally using sheltering techniques aiming to ensure that MLLs learn the same content as their native English-speaking peers, the problem still remains.
Defining the Problem with Qualitative Research
Having taught in urban public schools, I have developed a keen awareness of the challenges involved in bridging linguistic gaps among students.
During the initial phases of the design process, I created a proto persona to efficiently capture and communicate user needs, behaviors, and goals to stakeholders. This approach provided a rapid and adaptable framework for understanding our diverse user base and ensuring the project was aligned with their requirements.
Every Learner is Different
I conducted 10 user interviews—5 with students and 5 with teachers—to gain deeper insight into the barriers and beliefs influencing the student experience and to examine the impact of language ability on student outcomes.
Interview Takeaways
QUOTES
"That's why I don't talk much."
"I don't know how to say ___."
"I don't understand."
THOUGHTS
Communication is important so you can ask for help
I would have more friends if we spoke the same language
I wish my teacher could explain this to me more clearly
ACTIONS
Play with friends
Read books
Discuss lessons
Type on the computer
FEELINGS
Strained/Frustrated
Insecure/Lack of confidence
Hopeful
Students and teachers have a lot in common!
Key Insights
1
Streamlined communication would not only allow kids to get the most out of school instruction, but allow them to build meaningful connections with others.
2
If people could communicate more clearly, school communities would be more tolerant.
3
Confusion and misunderstanding are major pain points for students learning new languages along with new academic content.
Meet Valeria, the hero of this story.
User Insight Statement
Valeria, an elementary school student who recently immigrated to the city, needs to feel respected and valued at school because her thoughts, ideas and feelings are important and add value to her classes and community.
We believe supporting students by helping them effectively translate their thoughts and feelings will help them feel a sense of belonging because they are understood, valued and respected.
There are things that we can do to streamline language acquisition!
Prioritization Matrix
Following established methodology, I employed organizational tools such as the MoSCoW Matrix to generate ideas and begin prioritizing features essential for inclusion in the design.
Story Board and User Scenario
This tool simplifies translation for students by addressing key challenges such as limited input mode toggling and adult-focused sterile interfaces. Gamification elements like confetti bursts enhance user engagement and motivation, improving the overall experience for young users.
1
Valeria had a great day at school, but is nervous about going to her after school tutoring group because she doesn't understand the words her teacher uses to describe math.
2
The teacher introduces the first problem to the class in English. Valeria panics because she didn't understand her teacher's directions.
3
After solving the problem, her teacher asks her to turn and share her strategy with a partner. She panics, but remembers that she can use TT to help!
4
The teacher invites Valeria to share her strategy with the group. Once she is finished with her explanation the she earns points in TT.
Prototyping and Testing
I developed wireframes for each screen and systematically connected them to illustrate the complete user flow, ensuring that linguistic considerations did not impede efficiency for young users.
Wireframe and Prototype
Please note that in this early prototype, text labels will eventually be replaced by icons and signaling colors, in alignment with the sheltered instruction techniques currently employed by homeroom teachers.
Testing for usability
Navigate to the translate by voice function. 100% success rate
Type the word "tiny" into the translation text field. 60% success rate
Navigate back to the translation mode screen and select translate by Camera.
Translate with the camera function. 70% success rate
5 student participants (7-10 years old)
Mid Fidelity Prototype
The incorporation of color and iconography improved both usability and user engagement. This prototype includes key features such as a history function—which enables users to create a personalized library of frequently translated words and phrases for easy reference—profile customization, and support for multimodal translation.
Conclusion and Takeaways
You can't solve every problem and that's OKAY!
My primary objective was to address communication barriers faced by students, particularly in the areas of language translation and emotional expression. Research outcomes revealed a need to prioritize translation due to time constraints of the project. There still remains a need to support students in expressing their emotions, which I plan to address in a subsequent phase of this work.
Thinking outside the box.
I gained useful and transferrable insights about what makes apps more appealing and engaging for kids such as gamification, larger text, fun typefaces and bright colors. This project gave me inspiration to solve other problems I have encountered as a teacher.
Progress over perfection!!!!!
Win or lose, its all about growth and improvement through iteration.