Pocket P.E.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION APP FOR TEACHERS
Product
An app for teachers to customize nationally standardized PE lessons on the fly -- based on equipment, time and space available.
Project Roles
Brand Design, UI & UX Design,
Illustration, App Development,
Data Visualization,
Quality Assurance
THE CHALLENGE
Childhood physical inactivity and underdeveloped fundamental movement skills are linked to numerous preventable adverse outcomes, including increased obesity rates, diminished self-esteem, poorer cardiovascular and bone health, and reduced cognitive functioning. Compounding this issue are inadequate school funding and the time-intensive nature of lesson planning, which have negatively impacted the quality of physical education in schools. The Pocket PE team aimed to address these challenges by developing an easy-to-use, standards-based app that allows 3rd to 5th-grade teachers to generate custom PE lessons within minutes. Additionally, the app captures relevant usage data and presents it through intuitive charts, aiding in lesson planning and assessment.
BRANDING CONSIDERATIONS
The branding strategy for Pocket PE incorporates a bright and playful palette, drawing inspiration from a retro aesthetic that resonates with users. To maximize legibility, modern sans-serif fonts were selected, adhering to WCAG best practices to ensure high-contrast content displays. Color coding was strategically employed to distinguish the app’s three primary functions, enhancing user navigation and overall experience.
THE PROCESS: FROM MVP TO MARKET-READY SOLUTION
Pocket PE began as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) designed to test the feasibility of a dynamic, customizable PE lesson planner. The initial version of the app aimed to prove that teachers could effectively modify PE lessons on the fly, adapting to constraints like equipment, time, and space. By demonstrating the value of this concept, the MVP successfully laid the groundwork for further investment and development.
Following the success of the MVP, the client was awarded the opportunity to enhance and expand the app. This next phase of development focused on key improvements, including:
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Improved Responsiveness: Ensuring a seamless experience across various devices and screen sizes.
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Enhanced Timer Functionality: Refining timing mechanisms to better support structured lessons and activity transitions.
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Greater Diversity in Exercises: Introducing a broader range of exercises to accommodate different skill levels, physical abilities, and teaching styles.
SMART LESSON CUSTOMIZATION: MAKING PE PLANNING EFFORTLESS
Pocket PE streamlined the lesson-planning process by offering teachers an intuitive, quick-selection interface. By simply inputting student grade level, available time, equipment, and location, teachers could instantly generate a customized lesson from a comprehensive lesson database. This automated yet flexible approach made PE lesson planning more efficient and engaging. Teachers appreciate the ease of use and report that the app helped them deliver more effective, well-structured PE sessions, ultimately improving student engagement and activity levels.
IN-APP VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS
PRINTABLE STATION INSTRUCTIONS
THE DATA: TRACKING PROGRESS AND STANDARDS COMPLIANCE
Users and school administrators needed a way to evaluate student progress while also tracking and sharing a record of national standards met. To address this, we developed a comprehensive data reports page. Teachers and administrators can preview progress before sending reports and, with a single click, generate a year-to-date report to share with supervisors at any time. This feature not only streamlines documentation but also empowers educators with actionable insights to improve lesson effectiveness.
THE RESULTS
Pocket PE has been met with enthusiastic feedback from teachers, who praise its ease of use and effectiveness in enhancing PE instruction. As a result of its success, the team is planning to expand the app's functionality by adding even more exercise content to its already extensive database. This ongoing commitment to improvement ensures that Pocket PE remains a valuable tool for educators, promoting better physical education experiences for students nationwide.
WEB PORTAL FOR ADMINISTRATORS
To ensure Pocket PE can scale effectively across districts and schools, we designed a dedicated Admin Web Portal. This centralized platform gives district and school administrators the ability to create and manage districts, schools, classes, and student rosters, while also handling licenses and user roles. With intuitive tools for organizing users, monitoring adoption and usage, and controlling access, the portal provides administrators with the oversight they need to keep programs running smoothly and securely.
TECHNOLOGY
React Native, Firebase (Firestore, Authentication, Analytics and Functions).
