The document outlines a timeline and progress for the development of an interactive learning platform called iSlate, which will provide textbook content, interactive tutorials, game mechanics for rewards, and opportunities for mentorship and collaboration between students in India and a literacy program in the US. It identifies several areas of focus for the iSlate experience and requests help with user experience design, visual design, development, and identifying compelling interactive content from textbooks.

2. Timeline
Mar 10 May 19 Jul 14 Sep 15 Nov 10
Workshop 1 Workshop 3 Workshop 5 Workshop 7 Final Workshop
Finalize Challenges Final User Design Development Final Development
& Road Map Experience Deliverable Deliverable
Feb 3 Apr 20 Jun 16 Aug 18 Oct 13 Dec 2011
Kick Off Event Workshop 2 Workshop 4 Workshop 6 Workshop 8 Launch
Finalize Research Design Final Design Development
& Requirements Deliverable

3. Key Insights

4. Web-based learning stats
Salman Kahn
The Kahn University provides video
tutorials for asynchronous learning and
a powerful layer of analytics for
educators.
Take Away:
1. Provide progress analytics to
educators and share partial information
with mentors.
http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education.html

5. Jen
"Youtube has no Jen" - Jane McGonigal Jane McGonigal
Little acts of humanity / unreciprocated
kindness.
Confucius, adapted by neuroscientists
at UC Berkley to describe what rewards
us with pleasure.
Take Away:
Create a high Jen environment by
creating interactions built around
encouragement.
Starting at 4:35
http://boingboing.net/2009/03/31/boing-boing-video-ja.html

6. Game Layer
Schools are the perfect game system Seth Priebatsch
- Motivated players
- Challenges
- Rewards
But they are poorly designed
A good mechanic would not have kids
loose (go from a B to a C because of a
bad day at the exam)
Take Away:
Focus on the positive and level up
Gain experience points, all the time
Based on how many points you get, you
level up quicker to better grades, but
it's progressively better.
http://sxsw.com/interactive/live?
channelId=cd9352c56cd84781aaf17879de88ac6b&channelListId&mediaId=c01fd4dd21b349a38320c08c4bcaf9e5

7. Student-Guided Learning
Students working with computers in Sugata Mitra
groups show unprecedented results in
learning - even in languages they do not
yet speak.
Take Away:
1. The Granny System (have an army of
empowering mentors whose job it is to
tell students they are GREAT!)
2. Organize students in groups for
learning new issues, instead of a
traditional 1:1 ratio between students
and screens
http://www.inspiration.com/blog/2011/03/inspire-student-guided-learning-with-the-reaches-of-technology-2/

8. Art / Literacy Program
826LA provides a powerful mentorship
826LA
program that goes beyond studying
student curriculums.
Take Away:
1. Provide an Art/Literacy component a
part of the iSlate experience.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/
dave_eggers_makes_his_ted_prize_wish_once_upon_a_school.html

9. Progress

10. iSlate

15. Zones of
Engagement

16. 1. Mentorship Experience
Mentors can
- Sponsor students
- See basic progress data
- Send encouragements
Other features
- Show progress of the program overall
Help needed with:
- User Experience Design
- Wireframes
- Visual Design
- Development

17. 2. iSlate Interface
1/3 of screen is reserved for textbook
content - this will be exactly like in the
text books and always on
2/3 discretionary screen real estate
contains:
* a scratch pad (current complaint: it's
too small)
* auxiliary information / interactive
experience / tutorials
Help needed with:
- User Experience Design
- Wireframes
- Visual Design

18. 3. Interactive Textbooks
Identify key content segments best suited for
interactive experiences and design interactive learning
experiences.
a/ Basic Science
* e.g. show human digestive tract in biology lesson
* spinning globe visual for geography
b/ Social Science
* History
* Geography
c/ Math / Arithmetic
Help needed with:
- Identifying compelling content segments in text books
- User Experience Design
- Wireframes

19. 4. Game Mechanics
Create a fun and compelling reward
system using points, levels and a badge
system.
Tie in with the art program (students
with faster progress may spend more
time communicating with students at
826LA)
Help needed with:
- Design overall game rules / system
- Reward structure
- User flows and wire frames

20. 5. Moving beyond
Textbook Content
Students at 826LA will communicate
weekly with students in schools across
India that have access to iSlates.
The students will co-author a book
which will be published and shipped to
all participants.
Help needed with:
- Detailed project definition
- Remote facilitation of project

21. Thank you.