The Problem

The Problem

The Problem

The U.S. education system faces a significant literacy challenge, with many students struggling to achieve grade-level proficiency in reading. This issue often stems from a lack of teacher preparation in foundational reading instruction methods rooted in research. Lexia sought to address this gap by creating a solution that provides educators with the tools and confidence to deliver impactful reading instruction. 

The U.S. education system faces a significant literacy challenge, with many students struggling to achieve grade-level proficiency in reading. This issue often stems from a lack of teacher preparation in foundational reading instruction methods rooted in research. Lexia sought to address this gap by creating a solution that provides educators with the tools and confidence to deliver impactful reading instruction. 

The U.S. education system faces a significant literacy challenge, with many students struggling to achieve grade-level proficiency in reading. This issue often stems from a lack of teacher preparation in foundational reading instruction methods rooted in research. Lexia sought to address this gap by creating a solution that provides educators with the tools and confidence to deliver impactful reading instruction. 

Research

Research

Research

Prior to designing LETRS, extensive research was conducted to understand the needs of educators, administrators, and literacy specialists. This included interviews, surveys, and observations to identify pain points in literacy instruction and professional development. Research emphasized the importance of flexibility, given educators' demanding schedules, and the need for practical, actionable strategies that could be applied immediately in the classroom. Additionally, we consulted with curriculum specialists and instructional designers to understand the nuances of literacy pedagogy and science-based instruction frameworks.

Prior to designing LETRS, extensive research was conducted to understand the needs of educators, administrators, and literacy specialists. This included interviews, surveys, and observations to identify pain points in literacy instruction and professional development. Research emphasized the importance of flexibility, given educators' demanding schedules, and the need for practical, actionable strategies that could be applied immediately in the classroom. Additionally, we consulted with curriculum specialists and instructional designers to understand the nuances of literacy pedagogy and science-based instruction frameworks.

Prior to designing LETRS, extensive research was conducted to understand the needs of educators, administrators, and literacy specialists. This included interviews, surveys, and observations to identify pain points in literacy instruction and professional development. Research emphasized the importance of flexibility, given educators' demanding schedules, and the need for practical, actionable strategies that could be applied immediately in the classroom. Additionally, we consulted with curriculum specialists and instructional designers to understand the nuances of literacy pedagogy and science-based instruction frameworks.

Personas

Personas

Personas

Through our research we identified three key personas that we would need to design for:

Through our research we identified three key personas that we would need to design for:

Through our research we identified three key personas that we would need to design for:

Information Architecture

Information Architecture

Information Architecture

Course Overview

Course Overview

Course Overview

The Course Overview page allows participants to track progress and navigate through units. The sessions are laid out with approximate completion times. Sessions are unlocked as you complete the previous ones, however users can preview the lessons to get an idea of the cupcoming curriculum. 

The Course Overview page allows participants to track progress and navigate through units. The sessions are laid out with approximate completion times. Sessions are unlocked as you complete the previous ones, however users can preview the lessons to get an idea of the cupcoming curriculum. 

The Course Overview page allows participants to track progress and navigate through units. The sessions are laid out with approximate completion times. Sessions are unlocked as you complete the previous ones, however users can preview the lessons to get an idea of the cupcoming curriculum. 

Course Details

Course Details

Course Details

The Course Details page provides an in-depth view of each session. The outline on the left indicates the progress through the session and to allow for quick navigation. When working on a section, the estimated completion time is shown at the top. This detail was important to let participants know if they could complete parts of a session during their busy schedules, as many teachers were required to complete this course during school hours.

The Course Details page provides an in-depth view of each session. The outline on the left indicates the progress through the session and to allow for quick navigation. When working on a section, the estimated completion time is shown at the top. This detail was important to let participants know if they could complete parts of a session during their busy schedules, as many teachers were required to complete this course during school hours.

The Course Details page provides an in-depth view of each session. The outline on the left indicates the progress through the session and to allow for quick navigation. When working on a section, the estimated completion time is shown at the top. This detail was important to let participants know if they could complete parts of a session during their busy schedules, as many teachers were required to complete this course during school hours.

Dashboard

Dashboard

Dashboard

Because LETRS was purchased by local and state governments with taxpayer money, the administrators of the course needed to know they were getting a good ROI. We had multiple calls and sessions with them understanding the data that they need and care about on a dashboard. Through our research, we were able to provide them with at-a-glance summary of participant progress and performance across units and cohorts. Key metrics include license usage, participant progress, pretest and posttest results, and overall course completion rates. 

Because LETRS was purchased by local and state governments with taxpayer money, the administrators of the course needed to know they were getting a good ROI. We had multiple calls and sessions with them understanding the data that they need and care about on a dashboard. Through our research, we were able to provide them with at-a-glance summary of participant progress and performance across units and cohorts. Key metrics include license usage, participant progress, pretest and posttest results, and overall course completion rates. 

Because LETRS was purchased by local and state governments with taxpayer money, the administrators of the course needed to know they were getting a good ROI. We had multiple calls and sessions with them understanding the data that they need and care about on a dashboard. Through our research, we were able to provide them with at-a-glance summary of participant progress and performance across units and cohorts. Key metrics include license usage, participant progress, pretest and posttest results, and overall course completion rates. 

Manage Licenses - License Sets

Manage Licenses - License Sets

Manage Licenses - License Sets

Sets of licenses are purchased periodically as funds became available at the state and district level. License sets have a specific start date and expiration date, meaning assigned participants would need to complete the course in the alloted time or a renewal would need to be purchased. Upcoming license sets are also visible and can be pre-assigned prior to their start date. Administrators needed a way to easily assign licenses to participants. This screen highlights each license set purchased and the usage of each, making sure they are getting the most use out of their purchase.

Sets of licenses are purchased periodically as funds became available at the state and district level. License sets have a specific start date and expiration date, meaning assigned participants would need to complete the course in the alloted time or a renewal would need to be purchased. Upcoming license sets are also visible and can be pre-assigned prior to their start date. Administrators needed a way to easily assign licenses to participants. This screen highlights each license set purchased and the usage of each, making sure they are getting the most use out of their purchase.

Sets of licenses are purchased periodically as funds became available at the state and district level. License sets have a specific start date and expiration date, meaning assigned participants would need to complete the course in the alloted time or a renewal would need to be purchased. Upcoming license sets are also visible and can be pre-assigned prior to their start date. Administrators needed a way to easily assign licenses to participants. This screen highlights each license set purchased and the usage of each, making sure they are getting the most use out of their purchase.

Manage Licenses - Participant View

Manage Licenses - Participant View

Manage Licenses - Participant View

Administrators needed a quick way to find licensed participants without searching through sets of licenses. We added a tab on the Manage Licenses feature to be able to see all participants regardless of their assigned license. 

Administrators needed a quick way to find licensed participants without searching through sets of licenses. We added a tab on the Manage Licenses feature to be able to see all participants regardless of their assigned license. 

Administrators needed a quick way to find licensed participants without searching through sets of licenses. We added a tab on the Manage Licenses feature to be able to see all participants regardless of their assigned license. 

User Testing

User Testing

User Testing

With the help of UserTesting.com we gathered valuable feedback throughout the design, development, and release of LETRS. This platform allowed us to specifically target educators, administrators, and literacy specialists who matched our key personas, ensuring relevant insights. By conducting usability tests, we observed how users navigated the course interface, interacted with features like progress tracking and assessments, and understood the instructional content.

With the help of UserTesting.com we gathered valuable feedback throughout the design, development, and release of LETRS. This platform allowed us to specifically target educators, administrators, and literacy specialists who matched our key personas, ensuring relevant insights. By conducting usability tests, we observed how users navigated the course interface, interacted with features like progress tracking and assessments, and understood the instructional content.

With the help of UserTesting.com we gathered valuable feedback throughout the design, development, and release of LETRS. This platform allowed us to specifically target educators, administrators, and literacy specialists who matched our key personas, ensuring relevant insights. By conducting usability tests, we observed how users navigated the course interface, interacted with features like progress tracking and assessments, and understood the instructional content.

Results

Results

Results

LETRS has achieved significant success both in the marketplace and for the company, becoming a trusted professional development solution for educators nationwide and quickly becoming the top revenue generating product for Voyager Sopris Learning (now Lexia Learning). Schools and districts have reported measurable improvements in literacy instruction outcomes, with teachers gaining confidence and proficiency in applying the science of reading to their classrooms. High completion rates and positive feedback highlight the program's accessibility and effectiveness.

LETRS has achieved significant success both in the marketplace and for the company, becoming a trusted professional development solution for educators nationwide and quickly becoming the top revenue generating product for Voyager Sopris Learning (now Lexia Learning). Schools and districts have reported measurable improvements in literacy instruction outcomes, with teachers gaining confidence and proficiency in applying the science of reading to their classrooms. High completion rates and positive feedback highlight the program's accessibility and effectiveness.

LETRS has achieved significant success both in the marketplace and for the company, becoming a trusted professional development solution for educators nationwide and quickly becoming the top revenue generating product for Voyager Sopris Learning (now Lexia Learning). Schools and districts have reported measurable improvements in literacy instruction outcomes, with teachers gaining confidence and proficiency in applying the science of reading to their classrooms. High completion rates and positive feedback highlight the program's accessibility and effectiveness.

Learnings

Learnings

Learnings

This project made even more clear the importance of deeply understanding user needs as LETRS participants have the very important job of educating our country's children. With this in mind we took our approach very seriously. I gained insights into balancing complex content and management features with an intuitive design to ensure understanding and effectiveness. Additionally, using platforms like UserTesting.com reinforced the value of iterative feedback and how small design adjustments can significantly enhance user experience. If a service like this is in the budget, it's well worth the investment. 

This project made even more clear the importance of deeply understanding user needs as LETRS participants have the very important job of educating our country's children. With this in mind we took our approach very seriously. I gained insights into balancing complex content and management features with an intuitive design to ensure understanding and effectiveness. Additionally, using platforms like UserTesting.com reinforced the value of iterative feedback and how small design adjustments can significantly enhance user experience. If a service like this is in the budget, it's well worth the investment. 

This project made even more clear the importance of deeply understanding user needs as LETRS participants have the very important job of educating our country's children. With this in mind we took our approach very seriously. I gained insights into balancing complex content and management features with an intuitive design to ensure understanding and effectiveness. Additionally, using platforms like UserTesting.com reinforced the value of iterative feedback and how small design adjustments can significantly enhance user experience. If a service like this is in the budget, it's well worth the investment.