Exam Study Tool
Translate Preparation into Achievement
The Exam Study Tool gives students equal opportunity to prepare for New York State Regents Exam in languages they understand best.
Overview
We understand how challenging exam preparation can be, especially for students preparing for the New York State Math Regent Examinations. That's why we created the Exam Study Tool, an innovative web application that is meticulously designed to address the needs of all students, with a special emphasis on supporting English Language Learner (ELL) students.
We recognize that every student has a unique background and learning curve, and our platform delves deeply into three crucial subjects: Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. Our platform offers an extensive repository of questions from past Regent Exams and standard practice questions for a genuine exam experience. However, what sets us apart is our robust support for ELL students. Our multi-language option facilitates their comprehension by allowing them to understand questions in their native language while also having the English version readily available. This multi-lingual support ensures that language isn't a barrier but rather an enabler for success.
In addition to our rich question bank, the platform incorporates a sophisticated performance tracking system, allowing both students and teachers to monitor progress and zero in on areas that need further reinforcement. We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, and our platform is a beacon of inclusivity and empowerment. The Exam Study Tool is designed to help every student, especially those navigating the challenges of language acquisition, to achieve excellence in these pivotal exams. We are here to support and guide you every step of the way.
Challenges
All Students: The majority (81%) of all students tested achieved proficiency (Levels 3 & Above) in the exam.
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General Education Students: This group had a slightly higher proficiency rate than the overall average, with 86% of students achieving proficiency.
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Students with Disabilities: This subgroup had a significantly lower proficiency rate compared to the general education students, with only 54% achieving proficiency. This indicates that students with disabilities face more challenges in Algebra I than their peers in general education.
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English Language Learners (ELL):
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ELL students exhibited a proficiency rate of 30%, which is considerably lower than the all-students average and other subgroups. This underscores the challenges faced by ELL students, likely due to language barriers that might impact their understanding and performance in the subject.
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When comparing the numbers directly, of the 11,282 ELL students tested, 3,355 achieved proficiency.
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Non-English Language Learner: This subgroup had a high proficiency rate of 84%, which is similar to the proficiency rate of general education students.
From this analysis, it's evident that while the majority of students in NY achieve proficiency in Algebra I, ELL students and students with disabilities face notable challenges. The significant disparity in proficiency rates between ELL students and non-ELL students likely points to the need for additional support and resources for ELL students to bridge the gap.
Customer Segmentation
01 Students
1.1 ELL Students
English Language Learner Students whose primary language is not English preparing for the Annual NY Regents Examinations.
1.2 English Students
Students whose primary language is English and won't need any language translation services.
02 Teachers
Educators responsible for imparting knowledge to students and help them prepare for the NY Regents Examinations.
Persona 1
Kabir's Journey Map
Persona 2
Emily's Journey Map
Persona 3
Rob's Journey Map
Pain Points - Solutions
Language Barrier for English Language Learner Students
Tailored Bilingual Support: "Bridge language barriers with a seamless bilingual interface. Practice with side-by-side translations to understand every question completely"
Limited Quality Resources and Lack of Categorized Questions
Categorized & Curated Content: "Say goodbye to the clutter. Dive into our carefully categorized question bank, sorted by difficulty and standards, ensuring a structured and comprehensive study experience."
Generic Practice Materials and Lack of Personalized Guidance
Personalized Learning Paths: "With our performance dashboard, get a clear view of your strengths and weaknesses. Teachers can customize tests, ensuring you focus on what truly matters."
Lack of Realistic Timed Mock Exams to Practice Time Management
Real Exam Simulation:
"Experience the real deal before the actual exam day. Our timed tests, curated from an extensive question bank, simulate the NY Regent math exams to give you the best practice run."
Challenges in Relating Math to Real-world Scenarios
Intuitive Problem Solving:
"Struck on a question? Our intuitive problem-solving guidance aids in understanding the core concepts, fostering independent learning."
Feature
Prioritization
Scoring each feature based on two criteria: Value to Users (VU) and Implementation Complexity (IC). The scores will range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest.
Product Roadmap
User Stories
01
As an ELL student, I want to view problems and questions in both my native language and English so that I can improve my understanding of the content.
02
As a student, I want to take timed tests to simulate the real exam environment.
03
As a teacher, I want to customize practice sets for my students based on their strengths and weaknesses.
04
As a student, I want to see an analytical dashboard of my performance so I can understand where I need to improve.
05
As an English-speaking student, I want well-categorized questions so I can focus on specific topics or difficulties.
06
As a student, I want to access intuitive problem-solving solutions so that I can understand where I went wrong.
Acceptance Criteria
01
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The system shall detect the user's preferred language upon initial setup or profile creation.
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The system shall display each math problem in a bilingual interface, with the English version and the translated version appearing side-by-side.
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The system shall ensure that translated problems retain the mathematical meaning and complexity of the original problem.
02
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The system shall offer a 'Timed Test' mode for students to select.
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The system shall display a countdown timer throughout the duration of the test.
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The system shall auto-submit the test once the countdown timer reaches zero, preventing students from making any further changes.
03
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The system shall provide a dashboard for teachers to create and manage custom practice sets.
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The system shall allow teachers to select questions from an extensive question bank and categorize them by difficulty or topic.
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The system shall notify students when a new custom practice set is assigned to them.
04
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The system shall redirect students to their performance dashboard after the completion of tests.
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The system shall display metrics on the dashboard, such as average score, areas of strength, and areas needing improvement.
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The system shall provide a graphical representation comparing the student's scores over time.
05
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The system shall categorize questions by topics like Algebra, Geometry, etc.
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The system shall further classify questions within each topic by difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, Hard.
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The system shall allow students to select and practice questions based on their chosen topic and difficulty level.
06
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The system shall provide an option for students to review solutions after submitting a test or practice set.
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The system shall present step-by-step problem-solving techniques with clear explanations for each solution.
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The system shall ensure that solutions are user-friendly and easily comprehensible.
Risks and Mitigation
Technical Risk:
Challenges in integrating various system components, leading to technical issues or system breakdowns.
Mitigation:
Conduct comprehensive system architecture review. Invest in robust integration testing. Maintain clear documentation and ensure the development team is trained on integration best practices.
Schedule Risk:
Time delays in the development or deployment of the platform, causing a delay in the product launch or subsequent updates.
Mitigation:
Implement a rigorous project management system, setting clear milestones with buffer times. Regularly monitor progress, and if delays are anticipated, adjust schedule or allocate additional resources as needed.
Budget Risk:
Cost overruns due to unforeseen expenses, or changes in project scope leading to increased expenses.
Mitigation:
Establish clear budget at the outset, with allowances for contingencies. Any scope change must undergo a cost-benefit analysis and be approved by stakeholders. Regularly track expenditures against the budget to identify and address any discrepancies.
Operational Risk:
Failure to prioritize essential features or tasks, leading to inefficiencies or missed opportunities.
Mitigation:
Implement a robust feature prioritization framework, involving stakeholders in the decision-making process. Regularly revisit the priority list to ensure alignment with business objectives and user needs.
Programmatic Risk:
Changes in educational or data privacy laws affecting platform operations, or communication challenges among stakeholders leading to misalignment.
Mitigation:
Regularly monitor legal and regulatory updates related to education and digital platforms. Hire legal counsel specializing in ed-tech. Establish clear communication protocols, regular stakeholder meetings.
Business Risk:
Low customer adoption rates, resulting in reduced revenue, or out of funds before achieving sustainability.
Mitigation:
Invest in market research to understand user needs . Implement strategy to gather early feedback and make necessary adjustments. Regularly track performance indicators, and have a backup financial plan or potential secondary sources of funding.
Business Model (Lean Canvas)
MVP
Go-to-Market Strategies
