Journalingo
Journalingo
Journalingo is a journaling app with a language-learning element to it. Users can be in or out of the classroom while practicing daily journaling prompts in their target language. Users can utilize the app for their own self-study and enjoyment, or use a class code to receive personalized prompts from their teachers and get feedback on their posts. With over ten languages available, this app makes exploring a new language fun and accessible.
Journalingo is a journaling app with a language-learning element to it. Users can be in or out of the classroom while practicing daily journaling prompts in their target language. Users can utilize the app for their own self-study and enjoyment, or use a class code to receive personalized prompts from their teachers and get feedback on their posts. With over ten languages available, this app makes exploring a new language fun and accessible.
A journaling classroom companion app with a language learning component.
A journaling classroom companion app with a language learning component.
Challenge
Journaling is an important skills for students to learn, but journaling in the classroom is not always as easy as it seems. Students who are absent and miss a journaling prompt from class might then fall behind in their work. Teachers are exhausted with having to track down students' missing journal entries, as well as having to come up with new entries every day/week. Users who simply want to practice journaling in a new language are lacking resources.
Objective
To make lives easier for both educators and learners by giving them a resource that comes up with daily journaling prompts for them, and allows for seamless communication/feedback.
Research
English Language Learners are a growing student population in the United States of America. Teachers are often left with fewer resources for these students and their unique needs, and so Journalingo was created to help this group of learners as well as any students learning languages in the classroom or on their own.
After conducting preliminary interviews with different educators in the US public schools, several pain points were identified:
Technology can be overwhelming for new users
Some language learning apps are not kid-friendly
There are a limited number of languages on other apps
The app must be accessible both in and out of the classroom
Competitive Audit
Five other journaling apps were examined for potential strengths and gaps that Journalingo could learn and grow from.
5 Minute Journal: Self-Care
Diarium
Day One
Journaly
LangJournal
Strengths: Daily prompts give options for users who might be new to reflective writing.
Weaknesses: Onboarding process is a bit overwhelming, and has no desktop/website companion app.
Strengths: Connects to many aspects of life, such as maps and fitness tracking.
Weaknesses: Navigation can be challenging.
Strengths: Offers many features, as well as customizable reminders.
Weaknesses: Some potential issues with font/color accessibility. Doesn’t seem to have a strong brand identity.
Strengths: Allows for user feedback on blog-style posts in different languages. Iconography is also helpful for bridging communication.
Weaknesses: No companion app. Website appears to be in its early stages.
Strengths: Allows users to get language feedback from AI to practice their writing. This can help with feelings of embarrassment.
Weaknesses: Limited number of languages with a dull interface.
Persona Development
Two personas were created that would capture potential problems that real users might have in the areas of language learning and journaling.
Wireframes
There were a few features that felt essential to include in the design for Journalingo:
A timeline
A calendar
The daily class prompt
A search bar
The timeline screen also functions as the home screen when opening the app. It includes all of the user’s recent entries, as well as an easy way to find old entries with the search bar tool. It is organized with clear dates for ease of use. The calendar screen is another way for users to look back on older entries, and includes a search bar as well.
The class prompt is first on the post screen since users need to see it in order to respond. There are also small squares at the bottom of the text box to represent options for including photos, audio, files, or changing font styles.
Timeline
Class Prompt
Calendar
View Lo-fi Prototype
Round 1 Findings:
Users did not find their birthdays necessary on the profile page, so that information was removed.
Users had trouble finding their notifications, so a dot was added for visibility.
Users wanted more personalization to their writing, so different font styles were added.
Round 2 Findings:
Users were not scrolling to the ‘post’ button, so it was moved higher.
Users were skipping the ‘daily prompt’ button, so a pop-up was added to explain.
Users didn’t like the ‘+’ symbol to mean edit on the profile page, so it was changed to a pencil.
Testing and Iteration
Journalingo went through two rounds of usability studies - once after the lo-fi prototype was created, and another round after the hi-fi prototype was finished. Five participants followed a series of prompts that led them through the app, and examined Key Performance Indicators such as:
User error rates - to track the frequency of mistakes made by users
Conversion rates - to find out if users can successfully complete a full user flow cycle
System usability scale - to see how users feel about the design and usability of the website
After the tests were completed, the following insights were drawn from the studies:
View Full Testing Plan
UI Design
Journalingo’s UI was designed to make users feel the opposite way that formal education can sometimes feel. Writing in a lined notebook can feel rigid, and remind learners of the stress and pressure of grades. Journalingo capitalizes on the use of rounded corners and bubble fonts to combat this rigidness, and make the app feel lighthearted. The colors used are also calming variations of teal blues, to help users feel relaxed and carefree while journaling their thoughts.
Final Mockups
Journalingo’s hi-fi prototype begins with a user onboarding where they are given the option of learner or teacher, and then are shown how to create a prompt. The app allows users to edit their profile pictures, select their target language, and see notifications for feedback from their teachers and classmates. Together, all of these ideas allow for a fun and unique classroom experience from the comfort of your computer or mobile device.
Interact with the full Journalingo hi-fi prototype using the button below:
© Madison Stahl 2024
© Madison Stahl 2024
Challenge
Journaling is an important skills for students to learn, but journaling in the classroom is not always as easy as it seems. Students who are absent and miss a journaling prompt from class might then fall behind in their work. Teachers are exhausted with having to track down students' missing journal entries, as well as having to come up with new entries every day/week. Users who simply want to practice journaling in a new language are lacking resources.
Objective
To make lives easier for both educators and learners by giving them a resource that comes up with daily journaling prompts for them, and allows for seamless communication/feedback.
Research
English Language Learners are a growing student population in the United States of America. Teachers are often left with fewer resources for these students and their unique needs, and so Journalingo was created to help this group of learners as well as any students learning languages in the classroom or on their own.
After conducting preliminary interviews with different educators in the US public schools, several pain points were identified:
Technology can be overwhelming for new users
Some language learning apps are not kid-friendly
There are a limited number of languages on other apps
The app must be accessible both in and out of the classroom
Competitive Audit
Five other journaling apps were examined for potential strengths and gaps that Journalingo could learn and grow from.
Persona Development
Two personas were created that would capture potential problems that real users might have in the areas of language learning and journaling.
Wireframes
There were a few features that felt essential to include in the design for Journalingo:
A timeline
A calendar
The daily class prompt
A search bar
Timeline
Class Prompt
Calendar
The timeline screen also functions as the home screen when opening the app. It includes all of the user’s recent entries, as well as an easy way to find old entries with the search bar tool. It is organized with clear dates for ease of use. The calendar screen is another way for users to look back on older entries, and includes a search bar as well.
The class prompt is first on the post screen since users need to see it in order to respond. There are also small squares at the bottom of the text box to represent options for including photos, audio, files, or changing font styles.
Testing and Iteration
Journalingo went through two rounds of usability studies - once after the lo-fi prototype was created, and another round after the hi-fi prototype was finished. Five participants followed a series of prompts that led them through the app, and examined Key Performance Indicators such as:
User error rates - to track the frequency of mistakes made by users
Conversion rates - to find out if users can successfully complete a full user flow cycle
System usability scale - to see how users feel about the design and usability of the website
After the tests were completed, the following insights were drawn from the studies:
Round 1 Findings:
Users did not find their birthdays necessary on the profile page, so that information was removed.
Users had trouble finding their notifications, so a dot was added for visibility.
Users wanted more personalization to their writing, so different font styles were added.
Round 2 Findings:
Users were not scrolling to the ‘post’ button, so it was moved higher.
Users were skipping the ‘daily prompt’ button, so a pop-up was added to explain.
Users didn’t like the ‘+’ symbol to mean edit on the profile page, so it was changed to a pencil.
UI Design
Journalingo’s UI was designed to make users feel the opposite way that formal education can sometimes feel. Writing in a lined notebook can feel rigid, and remind learners of the stress and pressure of grades. Journalingo capitalizes on the use of rounded corners and bubble fonts to combat this rigidness, and make the app feel lighthearted. The colors used are also calming variations of teal blues, to help users feel relaxed and carefree while journaling their thoughts.
Final Mockups
Journalingo’s hi-fi prototype begins with a user onboarding where they are given the option of learner or teacher, and then are shown how to create a prompt. The app allows users to edit their profile pictures, select their target language, and see notifications for feedback from their teachers and classmates. Together, all of these ideas allow for a fun and unique classroom experience from the comfort of your computer or mobile device.
Interact with the full Journalingo hi-fi prototype using the button below:
Want to see more?
Check out my other case studies below:
Want to see more?
Check out my other case studies below:
Want to see more?
Check out my other case studies below:
© Madison Stahl 2024
Want to see more?
Check out my other case studies below: