Strategies for Identifying and Resolving User Interface (UI) Issues in Educational Apps

Educational apps have become increasingly popular in recent years as tools for learning and student engagement. However, even the best educational content can be hampered by poor user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. Clunky interfaces, confusing menus and options, and lack of intuitive navigation can all undermine an otherwise useful app.

As developers and designers of educational apps, how can we identify areas where the UI/UX is falling short? And what strategies can we employ to resolve issues and create a seamless, learner-focused experience? This guide will explore methods for pinpointing problems and optimizing the user interface for education apps.

Conduct Usability Testing

One of the best ways to reveal UI issues is through usability testing. This involves observing real users interacting with an app and identifying areas of difficulty or confusion.

Usability testing with students in the target demographic is ideal. Watch how they navigate through the app. Do they easily find main menus and options? Do they understand icons and buttons? Are they able to complete key tasks efficiently? Make note of any sticking points or unintuitive areas.

Surveys and focus groups can supplement hands-on testing. Ask students what they like and dislike about the interface. What would they change? Feedback from end-users is invaluable in determining problems.

Iterative testing at different stages of development ensures issues are caught early and validated after changes are made. Making the UI intuitive should be an ongoing process.

Evaluate User Flow

Analyze how users move through the app to accomplish tasks. Is the flow logical? Does each step progress seamlessly to the next? Any discontinuities or unintuitive jumps in the user flow will cause confusion.

For example, an educational game might have a convoluted sequence of navigating from the home screen to selecting an avatar to starting actual gameplay. A UI audit would pinpoint areas where the user flow needs streamlining.

Create user flow diagrams mapping out ideal paths vs. actual paths. Looking at the app navigation in this way simplifies identifying pain points.

Review App Architecture

Take a big picture view of the app structure and how elements are organized. Educational apps should have clear, properly delineated sections for different functions.

Is content logically grouped into appropriate categories? Is it easy to find? Are menus and options where users expect them to be?

A convoluted interface architecture overwhelms and frustrates users. Review the information hierarchy and consistency across sections. Make sure related features are together in a sensible layout.

Check UI Text

UI text is a key aspect of usability. Button labels, menu options, and prompts within an app should use clear language that the target audience understands.

Replace advanced vocabulary or jargon with simple terms. Words should accurately describe their function – for example, a button that saves progress could say “Save” rather than the ambiguous “Done”.

Test text on representatives from user groups. Any confusing language is a chance to improve clarity. Icons can also aid comprehension for younger students not fluent in reading.

Are Design Elements Consistent?

A unified visual design is a hallmark of polished UIs. Maintaining consistency in colors, fonts, icons, layouts, etc creates familiarity. Users quickly learn patterns – changing them arbitrarily will trip them up.

Review visual components across the app. Alert icons should look the same from page to page. Branded colors shouldn’t randomly vary. If the home screen has a bottom nav menu, users will expect that navigation scheme everywhere.

Inconsistent design undercuts usability, so audit carefully and align elements. Exceptions can be made if research shows users expect or prefer something different in specific contexts.

Check Accessibility

Ensure the UI complies with accessibility standards so all students can use it. Account for low vision, hearing impairment, motor difficulties, and other considerations.

Run accessibility checkers to flag any issues, like insufficient color contrast or lack of ARIA labels for screen readers. Test the interface with the assistance technologies students rely on.

Accessibility should be built into apps from the start. Remove barriers for disabled students to create truly universal design.

Observe How Users Hold Devices

Watch to see how users physically interact with the app. Do they hold devices comfortably? Can they reach controls and tap targets? Is text legible at common reading distances?

Designs optimized for desktop can cause frustrations on mobile. If the app involves typing, ensure the onscreen keyboard doesn’t obscure content. Account for users on both smartphones and tablets.

The UI should accommodate real usage postures. Design in flexibility so the app functions properly regardless of device holding.

Define Tasks and Goals

Knowing user intentions is prerequisite for matching the UI solution. The app should enable students to achieve learning objectives and instructional goals.

Outline core tasks like reviewing a lesson, taking a quiz, collaborative activities, creative expression, etc. What journey does a student take to master the material? The interface should directly map to supporting users’ needs.

Keep user goals and education priorities centered in UI decisions. Remove features that don’t align. Streamline flows for accomplishing tasks so users spend time learning, not fighting the interface.

Conduct Competitive Analysis

Compare the UI to competitors and apps students already use. What are other education apps doing well? Don’t reinvent the wheel – leverage conventions students are familiar with.

For example, if quizzes in a popular app display questions centered large on screen, with answer choices below, mimicking that layout will help users adjust quicker.

But also look for areas where competitors fall short, and design better solutions. Analyzing the landscape informs better UX.

Iterate Rapid Prototypes

Don’t wait until development is nearly complete to evaluate the UI. Craft low-fidelity prototypes early on and test with users. Paper sketches and wireframes reveal frictions in user flow cheaply, without coding.

Get feedback, then rapidly iterate. As designs firm up, create interactive clickable prototypes. Insert placeholders for content and functionalities not built yet.

Continue testing and refining prototypes until satisfied. By the time development starts, the UI will have already been battle-hardened and optimized.

A/B Test Improvements

Even after launch, improvements can be made through A/B testing alternate interfaces. Run experiments with a portion of users to see if UI changes move analytics like completion rate.

For example, test rearranging menus or restyling buttons to increase clicks. Try variations in wording or iconography. If results improve, roll changes out fully.

Small tweaks can have big impact. Continuously test and optimize to provide the best UI experience.

Watch User Sessions Remotely

Observing learners firsthand is invaluable, but not always practical. Remote user session tools like UserTesting.com or Validately provide the next best thing.

Users access a web app version of the UI, then complete tasks while video and audio are recorded, with their screen movements tracked. Review recordings to pinpoint usability sticking points.

Remote testing scales expert evaluation. It provides objective data on UI issues, not just opinions. And problems can be identified without geographic restrictions.

Examine UX Analytics

In-app analytics provide window into how the UI is performing in real-world use at scale. Signals like high exit rates on certain pages, low clickthrough on buttons, or repetitive navigation patterns indicate user struggle.

Funnel and journey analyses spotlight areas users drop off in flows. Review heatmaps showing tap locations. Errors and exceptions highlight points of failure.

Metrics demonstrate UX obstacles – then testing and iteration can improve those weak points. Optimize to guide students smoothly toward learning.

Ask Subject Matter Experts

Educators are the subject matter experts. They understand students and instructional design principles. Collaborate with teachers throughout UI development.

Discuss learning goals, student capabilities, concepts that require extra reinforcement, areas of struggle, and context of how content will be used.

Expert guidance helps create interfaces that truly optimize for learning effectiveness, not just usability. Align UX tightly with teaching objectives.

Make UI Flexible

Students have diverse abilities and backgrounds. A rigid one-size-fits all UI limits the app’s reach and effectiveness.

Instead, build in customization so teachers and students can tailor the experience. Offer options like:

Adjustable font sizes – Important for visual accessibility
Text reading levels – Increase/decrease complexity
Speed controls – Accommodate different paces
Alternate input modes – Typing, dictation, tap targets
Interface themes – So students can respond better to colors/designs
Language support – For English language learners and translations

Adaptable UIs with teacher/student personalization allow broader access and usage.

Review With Fresh Eyes

When designers and developers are immersed day in and out, they can become blindsided to issues a newcomer would instantly notice.

Every so often, have someone entirely unfamiliar with the project evaluate the UI. Their unbiased perspective highlights areas that may have become normalized over time.

Fresh eyes prevent tunnel vision. Simple issues can snowball into major UX problems if never addressed early on. Regular external reviews keep teams on track.

Start With Mobile

Increasingly, students’ first experience with apps is on mobile. Building mobile-first ensures interfaces are streamlined for smaller screens from the outset.

Trying to cram desktop UI onto mobile as an afterthought strains usability. Menus may be buried, text impossibly small, inputs hard to operate, and perspectives distorted.

For the best UX, architect UI flows first for mobile, then expand to larger formats. Mobile experience informs more usable components for desktop and tablets too.

Review Error Messaging

When things go wrong, clear informative error messages are key for recovery. But cryptic alerts will confuse users and provide no remedies.

Check that each error message precisely describes the problem and solution without technical jargon. Be supportive and instructive – students should learn from mistakes.

No matter how solid, bugs and exceptions will occur. Well-designed errors turn failures into growth opportunities while preventing frustration.

Simplify and Declutter

Educational apps don’t need complex UIs like spreadsheet software. Simplify and declutter so focus stays on learning.

Remove any controls, options, menus that aren’t absolutely necessary. If a feature goes unused, let it go. Excess UI creates distraction and cognitive load.

Use minimalist layouts, clear signifiers, and plenty of negative space. Streamline flows into obvious linear steps.

Simple, intuitive interfaces help students grasp concepts rather than navigating convoluted software. Declutter for comprehension.

Review Help and Documentation

Even the best UI will need some explanation. But bad documentation hinders more than helps. Review help content for clarity, scope, and presentation.

Avoid walls of text. Use clear headings, bullet lists, bolding and highlights. Include images of UI elements being referenced. Break complexity into bite-sized chunks.

In-context help linked right where users need it, along with an online knowledge base, covers all bases. Ensure docs are readable, focused, and actually assist users.

Provide Feedback Mechanisms

Users should have clear ways to report issues and make suggestions. Feedback loops improve the product and show users their input matters.

Offer feedback buttons in the app interface itself. Build user research groups to participate in ongoing reviews and testing. Respond to app store reviews promptly.

Solicit feedback from instructors and students early and often. Smooth interfaces come from continual user collaboration.

Conclusion

Educational apps live and die based on their user experience. While great instructional content is crucial, delivery through the UI is equally important. Learners cannot succeed if fighting a confusing, difficult interface.

By taking a learner-centric approach, continuously testing and iterating, utilizing analytics, and collaborating with users throughout development, educational app creators can craft interfaces that truly enhance comprehension and delight.

Removing all friction and obstacles for students should be the ultimate UI goal. With sound instructional content conveyed through accessible, understandable design, educational apps unlock their full potential as empowering tools for growth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Identifying and Resolving UI Issues in Educational Apps

Here are some common questions around evaluating and improving user interface design for education apps:

How can I prioritize what UI issues to tackle first?

Focus on fixes that relate directly to key student tasks. If a certain button or menu prevents completing an essential learning activity, address it fast. Analytics can help reveal high-impact problem areas. Issues that affect accessibility should take top priority as well.

What’s the best way to present my app UI to students for feedback?

Simple paper prototypes can be useful for quick testing early on. Interactive clickable prototypes help test more mature designs. Provide clear tasks for students to attempt so you can observe frictions. The UI does not need to be fully coded yet to gain insights.

How much time should I spend testing UI with students?

There’s no single right answer, but many experts recommend at least 15 – 25% of total dev time spent on usability. Testing in multiple short iterations is most effective, not one long session. Even small tests of 5 students can reveal major issues that impact many.

How do I avoid “design by committee” when gathering extensive feedback?

Feedback should inform designs, not dictate them. Listen to users and learn what problems they face. Then use judgment to craft solutions based on goals, not just implementing every suggestion. Design by committee tends to lose focus – maintain a clear vision.

If my app UI is already released, is it too late to make improvements?

Not at all. Use analytics to identify usage problems, run small a/b tests to optimize, and request ongoing feedback through app stores. Apps are never “done” – build a process for continuous iteration. Even long-established products undergo continual refinement.

How can I make my educational app UI more accessible?

Follow guidelines like WCAG 2.1 for sufficient color contrast, screen reader compatibility, and keyboard navigation. Allow text size adjustments and configuration of UI elements. Support dyslexic-friendly fonts. Offer options for captions, text narration, translations. Consult with accessibility experts.

Should I optimize my edtech UI for desktop or mobile?

In most cases, prioritize mobile – that’s where usage is trending, especially for students. Ensure UI works on small screens before expanding to desktop. Mobile-first often improves focused UX. But do not neglect desktop entirely – support both, just with mobile getting precedence.

What if I don’t have budget for extensive usability testing?

There are DIY options like guerrilla testing with makeshift prototypes. Recruit student volunteers or speak with teachers. Video recordings of users can be insightful. Analytics provide some insights once launched. Prioritize testing above other nonessential features – it pays dividends in usability.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information and suggests strategies to consider. Implementation details will vary depending on specific apps, platforms, audiences, and technologies used. Consult UX experts as needed. Perform usability testing and due diligence before launching educational apps to ensure positive learner experience.