IXL
Bridging homework management between educators and students through IXL
+++ the task at hand
IXL 2024 Design Challenge
Build a new “Homework Assignments” feature for teachers on IXL. Your designs should enable teachers to assign any combination of IXL skills, lessons, and/or video tutorials for homework.
In other words, a single homework assignment could be a combination of only a few skills, or a lesson reading plus a few skills, or a lesson plus video tutorial plus a couple skills, and so on.
Sneak Peek
A quick product preview of the solution
TLDR: Effortless & personalized homework management, tailored to fit each lesson.
Provide teachers and students with an intuitive homework assignment experience, customizing each task to align seamlessly with the curriculum!
PROJECT SCOPE
Teachers on IXL cannot create homework assignments.
Currently, teachers can only assign IXL skills, and they may do so by telling students the skill code (e.g., B.4), sharing the URL, or by “starring” the skill in IXL.
IXL recently added more instructional resources that can help students absorb/remember the concepts and do their homework; these instructional resources are video tutorials and lessons - these cannot be directly assigned.
Above: Shows teacher's process to assign skills
Above: shows "assigned" skills that the teacher has starred. Videos and lessons cannot be starred.
THE PROBLEM
The existing starring method doesn't satisfy the user's needs
Teachers need a flexible and intuitive way to assign personalized homework on IXL that combines skills, lessons, and video tutorials to meet diverse student learning needs.
DESIGN PROCESS (PART 1) : BRAINSTORM
It was time to start designing solutions.
To get ideas flowing, I set some time aside to sketch potential screens. Because I was building off of an existing design, I familiarized myself with IXL's design patterns and UI aesthetics to ensure that the Homework Feature would fit in seamlessly
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
There was a need to define where the new homework assignment feature would live.
As I started designing, I hit an unexpected roadblock: the way teachers assign homework would change depending on where the feature is placed in the platform.
According to the existing Information Architecture:
The "starring method" (the current way to assign skills) lives under the Learning section.
The Quiz feature, which functions more like a traditional assignment tool, is located in My IXL (the teacher’s dashboard).
This inconsistency raised important questions about where the new feature should live and how it should integrate seamlessly into the existing system.
Based on these findings, the new feature could live in one of two locations: Learning or MyIXL.
I designed two potential Information Architecture (IA) structures to compare user flows side by side. This helped identify the most efficient layout, ensuring seamless integration with IXL while keeping the experience intuitive for teachers.
Option 1: Learning
Option 2: My IXL
Ultimately, I chose Option 2 because it better supports the teacher's task flow.
Grouped Homework and Quiz creation under "Assignments" alongside other administrative and engagement tools.
Streamlined navigation, making it easier for teachers to complete their work efficiently.
Created a more intuitive, centralized experience for task management.
DESIGN PROCESS (PART 2) : ITERATIONS
Assigned Homework Cards
One of my main goals was to create a clear and intuitive way for teachers to quickly view assigned homework. I explored different card and list layouts to present key information effectively without overwhelming the user.
To enhance usability, I focused on making it easier for teachers to edit assignments after they were created.
I incorporated a kebab menu next to each assignment, providing quick access to editing options such as adding or removing content, adjusting the due date, and modifying grading settings.
Assignment Overview Dashboard
To streamline navigation and reduce touchpoints, I consolidated homework and quizzes into a single assignments page, giving teachers an overview of all their created assignments in one place.
However, during testing, I identified potential challenges, such as disorganization and cognitive overload, when managing multiple assignments at once.
I explored different layout options and introduced an overview summary, allowing teachers to quickly assess active assignments. I also structured assignments into distinct categories, homework and quizzes, making it easier to navigate.
Introducing Homework Assignments on IXL: a powerful new feature that gives teachers the flexibility to assign, manage, and track homework like never before. Combine skills, lessons, and video tutorials to create assignments tailored to your curriculum and the unique needs of each student, ensuring that every homework task is purposeful, effective, and adaptable to diverse learning styles.
Teacher Dashboard: Overview
All your teaching tools in one spot
Assignment Dashboard
Take a quick view at what you've assigned
Homework Assignment Creation
Do it all on one page!
Student Dashboard
