Implementation of "Plan to Pass" : A Personalized Diagnostic Test Feature
As a product manager and designer at 240 Tutoring, I had the privilege of leading a transformative project aimed at empowering students through personalized learning experiences. Our mission was clear: develop a feature that not only assessed students' study priorities but also provided empathetic guidance tailored to their unique needs.
Goals
Our primary objective was to create a functionality that would prioritize study concepts based on each student's performance relative to their importance on upcoming exams. By doing so, we aimed to achieve two critical outcomes:
Increase freemium usage, thereby broadening our user base.
Provide students with actionable insights that would significantly enhance their exam preparation.
Role and Responsibilities
For this cross-functional project, I wore two hats – lead designer and product manager. This dual role allowed me to bridge the gap between user-centric design and strategic project management, ensuring a seamless collaboration between the creative and technical aspects of the project.
The Challenge
Students often grapple with questions like "What is my level of knowledge?" and "What topics do I need to study?" These questions arise from a deep-rooted desire to gauge their readiness for upcoming exams. However, 240 Tutoring recognized that we could do more to support our users. We sought a way to leverage our internally developed mapping teachings within the Content Management System (CMS) to offer precise guidance on study priorities.
Empathy-Driven Research and Problem-Centric Solutions
To address this challenge, I initiated a comprehensive user research and interview process. The goal was not just to gather data but to deeply empathize with our users' needs, fears, and aspirations. Through this process, I gained profound insights into the struggles and uncertainties our students faced in their academic journeys.
Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams
Working closely with the content and development teams, I translated these insights into actionable project goals. Together, we brainstormed ideas and honed in on the functionalities that would best serve our users. I recognized the potential for this feature to transform the entire user journey, and it was crucial to ensure its scalability and integration.
Design Process
My design process began with an unwavering commitment to empathizing with both our users and the business imperative. Understanding that this feature should seamlessly fit into the existing application, I spent significant time collaborating with users and researching best practices.
Moving into the design phase, I embraced a mobile-first approach in Figma. This approach ensured that the feature was not only responsive but also user-friendly. Brand alignment was essential, and I iterated tirelessly with the content and development teams to craft the most effective user experience.
Launch
In February 2023, we unveiled the "Plan to Pass" feature to our eager user base. This user-friendly tool empowers students to assess their exam readiness by comparing their performance to the exam's weight. The result is a clear roadmap for students, guiding them on where to start and what to focus on in their studies.
Future Iterations
"Plan to Pass" is not just a feature; it's a paradigm shift in how we empower students. We are now working on integrating this feature seamlessly throughout our application to ensure students have access to personalized guidance at every step of their learning journey.
Conclusion
This project taught me the power of empathy-driven design and the importance of cross-functional collaboration. As both a product manager and designer, I was able to bridge gaps, make data-driven decisions, and lead a team towards a transformative solution. "Plan to Pass" exemplifies how user-centricity can drive innovation and empower individuals to succeed in their academic pursuits.
240's 'Plan to Pass' feature experienced immediate success. Allowing users to demo the product beforehand instilled confidence in our curriculum, leading to a 13% increase in conversion rates within the first three months.