AI Word Slider (Amplify)

Product Design

,

Design Research

,

UI

2023-Ongoing

Schoooool x Amplify

Wrong Answer Lab

Amplify is a leading educational technology company, and Wrong Answer Lab is their R&D team dedicated to exploring what happens when education meets technology. Schoooool collaborates with Amplify by providing design and engineering expertise in this ongoing research effort.

These collaborations are aimed at transforming innovative ideas into scalable solutions that align with Amplify’s platform and mission, while still maintaining a focus on experimentation and pushing educational boundaries.

ELA & LLM

This season, we focused on supporting English Language Arts (ELA), particularly improving students' word choices and writing through AI-driven tools like large language models (LLMs). By developing prototypes for word exploration and writing assistance, we’re rethinking how AI can enhance both student creativity and classroom dynamics.

Asset A

Wrong Answer Lab brings together a multidisciplinary team of teachers, product managers, designers, and engineers from both Amplify and Schoooool.

Asset A

Wrong Answer Lab brings together a multidisciplinary team of teachers, product managers, designers, and engineers from both Amplify and Schoooool.

Asset A

Wrong Answer Lab brings together a multidisciplinary team of teachers, product managers, designers, and engineers from both Amplify and Schoooool.


Integrating AI Thoughtfully in the Classroom

To imagine AI tools that integrate smoothly into classroom settings, especially with young students, without overwhelming or distracting them. The interface needed to offer clear guidance, helping users distinguish AI-generated information from traditional content without creating confusion.

Generate

Generate

Generate

Classroom Dynamics with Generative AI

We aimed to elevate classroom experiences by leveraging generative AI’s ability to produce content rapidly and in bulk, offering diverse and immediate feedback that traditional methods cannot match. This approach helps lighten the teacher’s workload, introducing dynamic, real-time support.

Design and engineering run in parallel throughout the R&D process


Design and engineering run in parallel throughout the R&D process


Design and engineering run in parallel throughout the R&D process


Scenario:

Reading Task

1

Students begin by reading a given piece of text.

2

With the context, students are prompted to explore new vocabulary or synonyms.

3

Customized slider for students to explore a range of generated synonyms

(Drag that little circle to interact with the slider)

4

Try it yourself! Enter a new axis and explore how the slider adjusts the synonyms in real time.

(Example here is powered by gpt 3.5 Turbo)

The anticipation in the air was palpable as the guests arrived at the grand mansion, adorned in their finest attire. However, as the evening unfolded, an undeniable sense of ennui settled upon the attendees. The conversations seemed lackluster, the music fell flat, and the atmosphere was strangely subdued. Whispers of disappointment floated through the air as guests discreetly exchanged glances, their unspoken consensus echoing the sentiment that indeed, the party was rather lackluster and failed to ignite the expected spark of entertainment. Despite the elegant decorations and sumptuous feast, a collective longing for liveliness permeated the room, leaving many yearning for a more engaging and memorable soirée. The party is boring.

Learn Synonym

1

2

3

4

4

The parameters are set in collaboration with the teaching and curriculum teams.


The parameters are set in collaboration with the teaching and curriculum teams.


The parameters are set in collaboration with the teaching and curriculum teams.


Slider exploration 1

Slider exploration 2:

Gradient + 4-dimensional Slider

Slider exploration 3:

Parameter Visualization

Testing module

We facilitated testing with students and teachers from various states and grade levels, and iterated on the results to refine the product.

We facilitated testing with students and teachers from various states and grade levels, and iterated on the results to refine the product.

We facilitated testing with students and teachers from various states and grade levels, and iterated on the results to refine the product.

What do students think of this tool?
What do students think of this tool?
What do students think of this tool?

Purpose of the tool

In students' own words, this tool is for:

In students' own words, this tool is for:

“Defining and breaking down a word and seeing which one is better in that situation."


“Helping those that struggle with reading understand words better and understanding different vocabulary, different meanings. And for more advanced readers, it will help build vocabulary…”


"Learning new words, or maybe adding long words or short words to a sentence."


“Changing what you're reading to your level. You can make the vocab longer or shorter, harder or easier."


"If you need a certain word for something, like if you need a word that's hard to say or that's long.. like in essay writing"

“Revising an essay or a paragraph.. and changing the smoothness and steadiness of the paragraph."

Ease of Use

4.15

/

5

Understandability

4.33

/

5

Engagement

4.0

/

5

  • Testing with Middle School and High School Students

One student from each grade level: 6th through 11th from Florida, Indiana, New York, California, Tennessee, Oklahoma.

What do teachers think of this tool?
What do teachers think of this tool?
What do teachers think of this tool?

Purpose of the tool

All 4 teachers articulated that the tool was a vocabulary-focused tool that could be used with reading activities.

2 teachers mentioned the power of using a tool like this to support struggling readers and support differentiation goals.

Imagined Use Cases

Class Discussion

Class Discussion

Class Discussion

Teachers said that this tool could be great for class discussions about: Figurative language, Understanding the role of vocabulary in dialogue, The relationship between related words, Connotation and denotation, Paraphrasing a text

Imagined Use Cases

Reading

Reading

Reading

Supporting struggling readers or ELL students on a complex text, differentiating reading activities for students, close reading activities, helping build vocabulary knowledge and understanding words with multiple meanings, fluency practice (if there were audio)

Imagined Use Cases

Writing

Writing

Writing

Reviewing exemplar student writing, analyzing word choice, supporting students in being more descriptive and vivid in their writing, revising writing, rewriting a story, summarizing a text

Imagined Use Cases

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Evaluating word choice in writing (Tier 1, 2 or 3 words), examining an author's word choice, analyzing word structure (root words, prefixes, suffixes), exploring target vocab words for a lesson

  • 4 middle school ELA teachers: 6-8th ELA - Georgia, 6-7th ELA - Massachusetts, 6-8th ELA - Wisconsin, 6th-7th ELA - New Jersey

Feedback < = > Iteration

Researchers and teachers documented the process, producing reports that also deepened our understanding of how to effectively introduce AI concepts in education.


Researchers and teachers documented the process, producing reports that also deepened our understanding of how to effectively introduce AI concepts in education.


Researchers and teachers documented the process, producing reports that also deepened our understanding of how to effectively introduce AI concepts in education.


Credit

Amplify

Wrong Answer Lab

Schoooool

Engineering: Nicky Tesla

Design Direct: Andrew Herzog

Designer: Val Yang

Amplify Word Slider

Amplify Word Slider

Work @

Schoooool

Year

2023

Type

Product Design, R&D, UI

Amplify Word Slider

Amplify Word Slider

Work @

Schoooool

Year

2023

Type

Product Design, R&D, UI

Amplify Word Slider

Amplify Word Slider

Work @

Schoooool

Year

2023

Type

Product Design, R&D, UI