JUMP Math Student Experience
Digital assessments for K–8 students — transforming paper-based evaluations into seamless, student-friendly online testing.
MAKING DIGITAL TESTING FEEL HUMAN
Reimagining how 40,000+ students take math assessments — as the Lead UX Designer on JUMP Math’s student digital pilot.
ROLE
UX Designer
Collaborated with 1 PM, 2 Project Leads, 3 Product Designers and 6 Developers
Additional Scope & Constraints:
Part of a 12-month multi-phase rollout (S22–W23) covering architecture, teacher dashboards, student flows, and MVP usability testing
Boundaries: No legal concerns; Constraints: Limited to basic hosting/funding
Deliverables governed by open-source MIT license (UW Blueprint retained code distribution rights)
Built with data aggregation in mind to support education research across Canada
PAINPOINT
Paper tests slowed learning — and stressed students.
Jump Math believes that all children are capable of reaching their full potential through an understanding and appreciation of math. They support over 250,000 students globally through teacher programs, tutoring, and practice workbooks.
However, while learning materials had modernized, assessments were still stuck on paper. Teachers reported friction in scanning and grading tests, while students described delayed feedback, test anxiety, and accessibility barriers.
As a student-led team from UW Blueprint — a non-profit organization dedicated to building technology that advances public welfare — our challenge was to reimagine assessments for the digital-first classroom. To start, we began by mapping the different stages of a test (before, during, and after), which uncovered consistent needs and requirements.
The real test wasn’t math — it was navigating the test itself.
VALIDATION + INSIGHTS
What Students and Teachers Really Needed
Through interviews and two rounds of usability testing with 16 students (Grades 2–8), we uncovered a clear gap between what paper-based tests delivered and what digital assessments were needed to achieve. Both students and teachers voiced consistent needs that shaped our design direction.
“It wasn’t just about moving tests online — it was about designing an experience that reduced anxiety for students and scaled reliably for teachers.”
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
From Insights to Action
The research didn’t just uncover painpoints — it gave us direction. We distilled everything students and teachers told us into three guiding principles that shaped our design approach. These principles became our North Star for every screen, flow, and interaction:
These principles ensured our redesign wasn’t just digital — it was clear, confidence-building, and truly student-first.
SOLUTION
TESTING, SIMPLIFIED.
The redesigned digital assessment flow aimed to reduce stress and provide students with clarity at every step. The new experience makes starting a test feel familiar, supportive, and accessible — shifting the focus back to learning instead of logistics.
IMPACT
Turning Anxiety into Achievement
The redesigned assessment flow didn’t just work — it worked at scale. By simplifying entry, guiding instructions, and building confidence into the UI, we transformed testing from a stressful chore into an accessible, independent process. The results spoke for themselves:
DESIGN DECISIONS
How We Translated Principles Into Product Choices
01. Smarter Login UI
We reduced entry friction by introducing real-time validation, visual feedback, and autofill support. This cut login errors by 70% and gave students confidence right from the first step.
02. Guided Start Flow
Instead of overwhelming students with dense instructions, we designed a simple 3-step start screen with a visual preview of the test format. This helped reduce skipped instructions by 60% during usability testing.
03. Encouraging UI for Students
Motivational microcopy (“You’ve got this!”) supported students throughout the flow. Before submission, clear reminders flagged unanswered questions, helping students review without stress.
GET IN TOUCH
Where the real lessons happened
This project had everything — testing surprises, kid-inspired feedback, and a few design pivots we never saw coming. From login errors we didn’t anticipate, to the funniest student question we heard (“Can the test grade my recess too?”). Every step shaped a flow that was as much about empathy as it was about usability.
If you’re interested in the early sketches, scrappy Maze prototypes, or the detailed teacher interviews that informed our design principles, I’d be happy to share more. Let’s chat.
