Ripple
Gamifying awkward discussions.
Ripple uses Artificial Intelligence to transform your phones from a distraction to a fun collaborative tool to facilitate conversations.
Role
Tools
Duration
Team
The problem space
While group discussions are a meaningful way to share ideas and increase learning, quiet yet thoughtful voices may be overpowered by others.
Group discussions are incredibly important to helping students grow, which is why we practice the notion of collaborating since we start school. Quiet voices that have potential for new insight, however, often go unnoticed, leaving students awkwardly unable to contribute.
The opportunity
Artificial Intelligence has potential to benefit the education space.
If there's one thing AI is known for, it's its ability to tailor to individual users. A lack of personalized learning has been a long standing critique of existing education systems, and Artificial Intelligence can offer customization to an otherwise standardized educational experience.
Competitive analysis
Competitors have tried incorporating AI into educational products, but they often end up as "quick fix" products.
While Grammarly provides instant feedback, this serve as a quick bandage fix instead of a solution aimed to provide insight to why Grammarly recommends them to fix their grammar in the first place.
In addition, Khan Academy and Duolingo currently provide limited depth in advanced topics. If their AI feature is based on user-generated content, such as Quizlet, the responses may not be accurate either.
Problem statement
How might we facilitate group discussion dynamics for students and create an environment conducive to learning and collaboration?
Key insights
Many digital educational conveniences have changed how we normalize learning.
Insight #1: Technology as a crutch
There is a need for an engaging and interactive way to learn new concepts, not just an answer machine.
Insight #2: Active learning
Tangible learning—learning via practicing, discussing, and doing—is become more and more scarce with the introduction of digital shortcuts.
Ideating
Within the education space, there are a myrid of environments students engage in.
Three of our concepts explored different sub-spaces students are commonly involved in. While our competitive analysis has explored the environments such as the classroomn and self-studying space, we found that there is little support for those engaging in group discussions/collaboration. Therefore, we realized that the discussion space is a hidden yet vital process that contributes to students' learning.
Design direction
Our design principles established our unique, fun and interactive direction.
Applicable to a wide range of education levels, situations, and environments.
Avoiding overloading students with excessive information, and making the environment approachable.
Provides useful, tailored responses rather than a straightforward quick-fix
Integrating AI
Incorporating AI behind the scenes
To avoid problems demonstrated by competitors, such as inaccurate responses or a lack of depth, we used Artificial Intelligence behind the scenes. As a result, our AI is adaptable; it pays attention to whenever discussions have run into roadblocks. If someone is not contributing or the group as a whole is silent, it will proactively suggest an group activity based on the situation.
Design system
Ripple's approachable design
In order to engage with students as much as possible, we opted for a fun, approachable and welcoming design to complement our activites.
Final design!
Presenting Ripple!
Our fun, multi-phone, interactive way to properly collaborate with other students in discussion groups using AI. And if you'd like, feel free to check out our prototype below, or scroll more to view our in-depth features!
Design features
Join a study jam
Each student opens Ripple and puts their phone next to each others at the middle of the table to join a study jam. To start the session, say, "Hey Ripple, are you listening?" to have Ripple's AI paying attention to the discussion.
Design features
AI proactively adapts and suggests activities.
Depending on if your discussion needs to be balanced or supported, Ripple will suggest different activites for your group's needs. These activites are aasy-to-learn, gamified, and are team-based!
Design features
Phones used for the greater good
Ripple's multi-phone interface enforces a collaboration environment while providing an opportunity to avoid distractions from our addictive phones. They become a tool for learning rather than a source of distraction.
Design features
Adaptable to any discussion topic
Ripple can adapt to different education levels as it only makes suggestions based on the group's needs. As a result, students of any age can take advantage of Ripple! Each session ensures continual engagement throughout group discussion and decision-making, and also encourages groups to work through their challenges, rather than providing the "right" answer.
Reflection
Reflecting on the Ripple experience
Ripple was a really fun and unique project to take on! While we originally just wanted to utilize AI in a insightful, balanced way, we ended up naturally finding ways to make Ripple more fun, more engaging, and more tailored towards students in their discussion settings. Given more time, we would definitely love to expand more and user test Ripple. Shoutout to my teammates Amy and Kenneth, and I look forward to designing more products that feels just as unique and fun as Ripple!
