Usability evaluation and redesign of a math homework help website
I was contracted to help redesign Helpster, a math homework website developed as a research product by Arizona State University's math department. The goal was to improve student engagement and learning outcomes through better interface design.
Engagement Challenge
While Helpster had sophisticated math tutoring capabilities, the interface was complex and not intuitive for students. Many users abandoned the platform without fully utilizing its features, leading to lower engagement and learning outcomes than expected.
Approach
I conducted comprehensive usability evaluations, including:
User interviews with students of varying math levels
Task-based usability testing
Heuristic evaluation of the existing interface
Analysis of usage patterns and dropout points
Redesign
Based on findings, I redesigned the interface to:
Simplify the problem-solving workflow
Make hints and step-by-step guidance more prominent
Reduce cognitive load for students
Provide clearer feedback and progress indicators
Impact
The redesign significantly improved student engagement metrics and learning outcomes. Students reported greater satisfaction and spent more time on the platform, leading to better mathematical understanding.
Design principles
Every design decision was grounded in user research and testing. I believed that educational technology should empower students, not overwhelm them.
Impact
Improved student engagement and learning outcomes through thoughtful, human-centered interface redesign.
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