#

OneNote Learning Tools

Interaction Designer II | Redmond, WA

OneNote Learning Tools was a Hackathon project that improves reading and writing comprehension for all students through immersive reading modes, text-enhancement, and an audio reader.

Challenges
  • Students with learning differences struggled with reading and writing in OneNote
  • The existing tools lacked accessibility features for dyslexia and non-native speakers
  • Finish a working prototype for the Hackathon
Actions
  • Designed an immersive reading mode based on education reserach to improve accessibility
  • Prototyped and tested inclusive UX solutions that met diverse learning needs
Results
  • Won grand prize in company wide Hackathon!
  • Learning tools was fully adopted by Microsoft Office and by millions of students worldwide
  • Awarded US patent for immersive reader
OneNote Learning Tools computer

The Challenge

Teachers often struggle to meet the diverse needs of their classrooms. OneNote Learning Tools addresses this by bringing clarity to the classroom and addresses the needs of diverse students. It helps ESL learners, new readers, and those with learning disabilities improve fluency, confidence, and text comprehension.

OneNote Learning Tools page

Wireframes

With a short timeline and a straightforward feature list, I explored various design options. The most effective solution, supported by existing research, was an immersive experience that removed unnecessary navigation and focused solely on the student's reading.

OneNote notebook
OneNote notebook
OneNote Learning Tools page OneNote Learning Tools page OneNote Learning Tools page OneNote Learning Tools page OneNote Learning Tools page

Winning the Hackathon!

OneNote Learning Tools won the grand prize at the 2015 Microsoft Hackathon and took 1st place for the Student/Schools category. Shortly after, the immersive reading technology earned a US patent. This success story is a testament to the impact products can have when they consider an inclusive learning experiences for everyone across the learning spectrum.

OneNote Learning Tools page