Microsoft
Reading Coach
Reading Coach
A motivation framework for student engagement at scale.
A motivation framework for student engagement at scale.
Systems Thinking
UX Design
UI Design
Web
Mobile
UX & UI Design
UX & UI Design
Web & Mobile
Web & Mobile
Microsoft
Project TLDR
Project TLDR
My Role
As the lead product designer, I guided the project from early research to product rollout. I shaped the design vision, aligned cross-functional teams, and built scalable frameworks that ensured ethical, research-backed motivation design.
As the lead product designer, I guided the project from early research to product rollout. I shaped the design vision, aligned cross-functional teams, and built scalable frameworks that ensured ethical, research-backed motivation design.
PROJECT SCOPE
In partnership with PMs, engineers, and researchers, I define product strategy, validate design directions, and deliver a framework now applied across multiple Microsoft Education products, all within 6 months.
In partnership with PMs, engineers, and researchers, I define product strategy, validate design directions, and deliver a framework now applied across multiple Microsoft Education products, all within 6 months.
tools
Figma, FigJam, Microsoft Designer, research methods.
Figma, FigJam, Microsoft Designer, research methods.
context & objective
Setting the Stage: Why Motivation Matters
Setting the Stage: Why Motivation Matters
Reading fluency is a critical building block for student success, yet many digital literacy tools rely on gamification techniques that motivate students only in the short term.
Microsoft Education wanted to explore how to make Reading Coach not just sticky, but sustainably motivating and developmentally appropriate.
My guiding question:
Reading fluency is a critical building block for student success, yet many digital literacy tools rely on gamification techniques that motivate students only in the short term.
Microsoft Education wanted to explore how to make Reading Coach not just sticky, but sustainably motivating and developmentally appropriate.
My guiding question:
Reading fluency is a critical building block for student success, yet many digital literacy tools rely on shallow gamification that motivates students only in the short term. Microsoft Education wanted to explore how to make Reading Coach not just sticky, but sustainably motivating and developmentally appropriate.
As the lead Product Designer, I worked alongside researchers, PMs, and engineers over a 6-month timeline to design and test an engagement framework that could scale across education products.
My guiding question:
How might we help students feel confident, curious, and in control of their learning, without relying on short-term gamification techniques?
How might we help students feel confident, curious, and in control of their learning, without relying on short-term gamification techniques?
How might we help students feel confident, curious, and in control of their learning, without relying on short-term gamification techniques?
research & Insights
Digging Into What Truly Motivates Students
Digging Into What Truly Motivates Students
To move beyond trend-driven solutions, I grounded my work in behavioral science and learning psychology. I examined proven models that explain why people stay engaged, and how those principles could be applied responsibly to student learning.
To move beyond trend-driven solutions, I grounded my work in behavioral science and learning psychology. I examined proven models that explain why people stay engaged, and how those principles could be applied responsibly to student learning.
To move beyond trend-driven solutions, I grounded my work in behavioral science and learning psychology. I examined proven models that explain why people stay engaged, and how those principles could be applied responsibly to student learning.
Motivation framework foundation
Motivation framework foundation
Motivation framework foundation
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) emphasizes the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in sustaining motivation.
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is a psychological framework that focuses on intrinsic motivation and factors that contribute to individuals’ inherit drive to engage in activities or tasks.
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is a psychological framework that focuses on intrinsic motivation and factors that contribute to individuals’ inherit drive to engage in activities or tasks.
The Fogg Behavior Model a systematic way to think about the factors underlying behavior change.
The Fogg Behavior Model a systematic way to think about the factors underlying behavior change.
The Fogg Behavior Model a systematic way to think about the factors underlying behavior change.
The Hook Model a framework to create habit-forming products by encouraging repeated user engagement.
The Hook Model is a framework to create habit-forming products by encouraging repeated user engagement.
The Hook Model is a framework to create habit-forming products by encouraging repeated user engagement.
Mapping Insights to the Student Experience
Mapping Insights to the Student Experience
Mapping Insights to the Student Experience
I translated these theories into the student journey, identifying emotional “inflection points” where students often feel bored, confused, proud, or discouraged.
I translated these theories into the student journey, identifying emotional “inflection points” where students often feel bored, confused, proud, or discouraged.
I translated these theories into the student journey, identifying emotional “inflection points” where students often feel bored, confused, proud, or discouraged.
This mapping ensured that every design feature corresponded to a real student need, sparking curiosity at the start, reinforcing confidence mid-journey, and supporting autonomy once students gained momentum.
This mapping ensured that every design feature corresponded to a real student need, sparking curiosity at the start, reinforcing confidence mid-journey, and supporting autonomy once students gained momentum.
This mapping ensured that every design feature corresponded to a real student need, sparking curiosity at the start, reinforcing confidence mid-journey, and supporting autonomy once students gained momentum.
Building the Motivation Framework
Building the Motivation Framework
From these insights, I developed a motivation framework, and a set of tools and principles the product team could apply across features:
From these insights, I developed a motivation framework, and a set of tools and principles the product team could apply across features:
From these insights, I developed a motivation framework, and a set of tools and principles the product team could apply across features:
Core principles: Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness
Evaluation checklist: A rubric to vet new ideas against ethical engagement criteria
Student journey map: Highlighting moments of emotional friction and opportunity
Motivation touch points library: Curated list of scalable, ethical engagement patterns
Core principles: Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness
Evaluation checklist: A rubric to vet new ideas against ethical engagement criteria
Student journey map: Highlighting moments of emotional friction and opportunity
Motivation touch points library: Curated list of scalable, ethical engagement patterns
Core principles: Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness
Evaluation checklist: A rubric to vet new ideas against ethical engagement criteria
Student journey map: Highlighting moments of emotional friction and opportunity
Motivation touch points library: Curated list of scalable, ethical engagement patterns
This framework gave the team a shared language for engagement, allowing us to make principled trade-offs as product needs evolved.
This framework gave the team a shared language for engagement, allowing us to make principled trade-offs as product needs evolved.
This framework gave the team a shared language for engagement, allowing us to make principled trade-offs as product needs evolved.
Visualizing the Framework
Visualizing the Framework
Visualizing the Framework
The framework organized engagement around six pillars students consistently valued: Low Friction, Personal Connection, In-Control, Appropriately Challenged, Summative Feedback, Community.
The framework organized engagement around six pillars students consistently valued: Low Friction, Personal Connection, In-Control, Appropriately Challenged, Summative Feedback, Community.
The framework organized engagement around six pillars students consistently valued: Low Friction, Personal Connection, In-Control, Appropriately Challenged, Summative Feedback, Community.
Key takeaway
Key takeaway
Key takeaway
By grounding design in research and mapping it to the real student journey, I ensured our engagement strategies were not only effective but also responsible, fostering learning habits that last beyond the product.
By grounding design in research and mapping it to the real student journey, I ensured our engagement strategies were not only effective but also responsible, fostering learning habits that last beyond the product.
By grounding design in research and mapping it to the real student journey, I ensured our engagement strategies were not only effective but also responsible, fostering learning habits that last beyond the product.
ideations
Sketching Pathways to Student Agency
Sketching Pathways to Student Agency
I sketched dozens of approaches for balancing fun and responsibility. I mapped each idea back to SDT principles to ensure features supported autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
I sketched dozens of approaches for balancing fun and responsibility. I mapped each idea back to SDT principles to ensure features supported autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
I sketched dozens of approaches for balancing fun and responsibility. I mapped each idea back to SDT principles to ensure features supported autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
Low fidelity
Low fidelity
Low fidelity
Mid fidelity
Mid fidelity
Mid fidelity
High fidelity
High fidelity
High fidelity
prototyping & testing
From Rough Ideas to Student-Tested Solutions
From Rough Ideas to Student-Tested Solutions
I developed low to high-fidelity prototypes in Figma and ran usability sessions with middle school students. Some highlights from student feedback was:
I developed low to high-fidelity prototypes in Figma and ran usability sessions with middle school students. Some highlights from student feedback was:
I developed low to high-fidelity prototypes in Figma and ran usability sessions with middle school students. Some highlights from student feedback was:
Students loved “unlocking” content but asked for more variety and surprise.
Some disliked competitive framing, preferring personal progress tracking.
Teachers valued features that allowed them to support, not enforce, student engagement.
Students loved “unlocking” content but asked for more variety and surprise.
Some disliked competitive framing, preferring personal progress tracking.
Teachers valued features that allowed them to support, not enforce, student engagement.
Students loved “unlocking” content but asked for more variety and surprise.
Some disliked competitive framing, preferring personal progress tracking.
Teachers valued features that allowed them to support, not enforce, student engagement.
I refined the designs to:
I refined the designs to:
I refined the designs to:
Replace leaderboards with personal streak trackers, that were not detrimental if broken
Add playful micro-interactions when badges unlock
Ensure transparent progress tracking for both students and teachers
Replace leaderboards with personal streak trackers, that were not detrimental if broken
Add playful micro-interactions when badges unlock
Ensure transparent progress tracking for both students and teachers
Replace leaderboards with personal streak trackers, that were not detrimental if broken
Add playful micro-interactions when badges unlock
Ensure transparent progress tracking for both students and teachers
features based on framework
What We Shipped
What We Shipped
The final framework centered on sustainable engagement:
The final framework centered on sustainable engagement:
The final framework centered on sustainable engagement:
Unlockable Content to Spark Curiosity
Unlockable Content to Spark Curiosity
Reading for 20 minutes unlocks new characters and settings for the student’s personalized stories. This not only incentivizes consistent practice but reinforces a love for storytelling.
Reading for 20 minutes unlocks new characters and settings for the student’s personalized stories. This not only incentivizes consistent practice but reinforces a love for storytelling.
Reading for 20 minutes unlocks new characters and settings for the student’s personalized stories. This not only incentivizes consistent practice but reinforces a love for storytelling.
Autonomy: Offering choices
Autonomy: Offering choices
Relatedness: Personalization & differentiation
Autonomy: Offering choices
Relatedness: Personalization & Differentiation
Competence: Communicating progress
Competence: Communicating progress
Badges for Effort & Persistence
Badges for Effort & Persistence
Badges reward time and persistence, not speed, scores, or rankings. These help build confidence and normalize progress at different paces.
Badges reward time and persistence, not speed, scores, or rankings. These help build confidence and normalize progress at different paces.
Badges reward time and persistence, not speed, scores, or rankings. These help build confidence and normalize progress at different paces.
Competence: Communicating progress
Competence: Communicating progress
Streaks with Flexibility to Encourage Habits without Guilt
Streaks with Flexibility to Encourage Habits without Guilt
Unlike typical streaks that punish breaks, ours celebrate 3, 5, and 7-day consistency, but don’t penalize students for missing a day. This reduces shame and burnout while still encouraging rhythm.
Unlike typical streaks that punish breaks, ours celebrate 3, 5, and 7-day consistency, but don’t penalize students for missing a day. This reduces shame and burnout while still encouraging rhythm.
Unlike typical streaks that punish breaks, ours celebrate 3, 5, and 7-day consistency, but don’t penalize students for missing a day. This reduces shame and burnout while still encouraging rhythm.
Autonomy: Setting goals
Autonomy: Setting goals
Competence: Communicating progress
Competence: Communicating progress
You can see below the screen a few variations of how the streak progress throughout the week to continue to encourage and motivate the student to continue to read every day.
You can see below the screen a few variations of how the streak progress throughout the week to continue to encourage and motivate the student to continue to read every day.
You can see below the screen a few variations of how the streak progress throughout the week to continue to encourage and motivate the student to continue to read every day.
Custom Story Covers
Custom Story Covers
I designed whimsical, visually diverse story covers using Microsoft Designer that reflect students’ choices. These personalized visuals add delight and reinforce autonomy.
I designed whimsical, visually diverse story covers using Microsoft Designer that reflect students’ choices. These personalized visuals add delight and reinforce autonomy.
I designed whimsical, visually diverse story covers using Microsoft Designer that reflect students’ choices. These personalized visuals add delight and reinforce autonomy.
Relatedness: Personalization & differentiation
Relatedness: Personalization & differentiation
More Features to Come!
More Features to Come!
More Features to Come!
Although I'm no longer working on this project, the student motivational framework remains actively applied in new feature development and is being expanded for self-directed student products.
Although I'm no longer working on this project, the student motivational framework remains actively applied in new feature development and is being expanded for self-directed student products.
Although I'm no longer working on this project, the student motivational framework remains actively applied in new feature development and is being expanded for self-directed student products.
OUTCOMES & IMPACTS
From 30K to 75K: Motivation that Moves the Needle
From 30K to 75K: Motivation that Moves the Needle
The redesigned engagement system contributed to a major adoption boost:
The redesigned engagement system contributed to a major adoption boost:
The redesigned engagement system contributed to a major adoption boost:
Monthly Active Users grew from 30K → 75K across, +125 countries, in 3 months
Helped establish a reusable engagement framework now being applied across other Microsoft Education tools
Positive qualitative feedback from teachers who appreciated the ethical design approach
Teachers and parents reported increased enthusiasm and independence:
Monthly Active Users grew from 30K → 75K across, +125 countries, in 3 months
Helped establish a reusable engagement framework now being applied across other Microsoft Education tools
Positive qualitative feedback from teachers who appreciated the ethical design approach
Teachers and parents reported increased enthusiasm and independence:
Monthly Active Users grew from 30K → 75K across, +125 countries, in 3 months
Helped establish a reusable engagement framework now being applied across other Microsoft Education tools
Positive qualitative feedback from teachers who appreciated the ethical design approach
Teachers and parents reported increased enthusiasm and independence:
“We loved the ability to create our own story… I thought it really allowed him to tap into his creativity.”
“We loved the ability to create our own story… I thought it really allowed him to tap into his creativity.”
“We loved the ability to create our own story… I thought it really allowed him to tap into his creativity.”
-Parent of a 4th grader
-Parent of a 4th grader
-Parent of a 4th grader
“I have students that are reading at the 9th grade reading level to kids that are at the kindergarten level that are pulled out of my class for RSP and support in reading. Reading Coach is such a game changer that they're able to go on there and pick a reading level and they could do that personally. I could tell them too. It is really helpful because it is very broad.”
“I have students that are reading at the 9th grade reading level to kids that are at the kindergarten level that are pulled out of my class for RSP and support in reading. Reading Coach is such a game changer that they're able to go on there and pick a reading level and they could do that personally. I could tell them too. It is really helpful because it is very broad.”
“I have students that are reading at the 9th grade reading level to kids that are at the kindergarten level that are pulled out of my class for RSP and support in reading. Reading Coach is such a game changer that they're able to go on there and pick a reading level and they could do that personally. I could tell them too. It is really helpful because it is very broad.”
-Teacher of 5th grade
-Teacher of 5th grade
-Teacher of 5th grade
reflection
What worked
What worked
What worked
Grounding design in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) gave me a strong framework to challenge “trendy” gamification requests.
This approach aligned the team around student-first engagement and ensured features supported autonomy, persistence, and curiosity.
Grounding design in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) gave me a strong framework to challenge “trendy” gamification requests.
This approach aligned the team around student-first engagement and ensured features supported autonomy, persistence, and curiosity.
Grounding design in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) gave me a strong framework to challenge “trendy” gamification requests.
This approach aligned the team around student-first engagement and ensured features supported autonomy, persistence, and curiosity.
What was hard
What was hard
What was hard
Balancing motivation with responsibility, creating designs that empowered students without relying on superficial tactics.
Product managers initially pushed for a Duolingo-style model, effective for adults but misaligned with younger students’ needs.
To shift perspectives, I brought PMs into the research process, leading workshops and brainstorming sessions that reframed the challenge around authentic student engagement.
Balancing motivation with responsibility, creating designs that empowered students without relying on superficial tactics.
Product managers initially pushed for a Duolingo-style model, effective for adults but misaligned with younger students’ needs.
To shift perspectives, I brought PMs into the research process, leading workshops and brainstorming sessions that reframed the challenge around authentic student engagement.
Balancing motivation with responsibility, creating designs that empowered students without relying on superficial tactics.
Product managers initially pushed for a Duolingo-style model, effective for adults but misaligned with younger students’ needs.
To shift perspectives, I brought PMs into the research process, leading workshops and brainstorming sessions that reframed the challenge around authentic student engagement.
What I'd do differently
What I'd do differently
What I'd do differently
Invest earlier in longitudinal testing, since true engagement emerges over weeks of use, not one-off sessions.
This would provide a deeper view into habit formation and sustained motivation.
Invest earlier in longitudinal testing, since true engagement emerges over weeks of use, not one-off sessions.
This would provide a deeper view into habit formation and sustained motivation.
Invest earlier in longitudinal testing, since true engagement emerges over weeks of use, not one-off sessions.
This would provide a deeper view into habit formation and sustained motivation.
Next steps
From user feedback
From user feedback
From user feedback
Expand into additional languages, add comprehension questions, and refine engagement features.
Expand into additional languages, add comprehension questions, and refine engagement features.
From my perspective
From my perspective
From my perspective
Scale the framework to other subject areas and deepen AI-driven personalization to adapt to evolving learner needs.
Scale the framework to other subject areas and deepen AI-driven personalization to adapt to evolving learner needs.
Microsoft
Search Progress: Future-ready information literacy tools for students.
Search Progress: Future-ready information literacy tools for students.
Search Progress: Future-ready information literacy tools for students.
UX Design
UI Design
Web
Mobile