NOTE: This project/case study was developed specifically for the Amazon Future Engineer 2022 hackathon, where the focus was on showcasing innovative solutions and pushing the boundaries of technology.

As college students from underrepresented backgrounds, we’re able to bring a widespread, yet often overlooked perspective to the table. Gaps in academic resources, the decline in education quality, tech disparities, & a rise in learning struggles were just some of the multiple obstacles we faced throughout our academic careers. Dedicated to working backward, we’re committed to Miriam Daniel’s, VP of Alexa & Echo Devices, words, “It's imperative that you are not constrained by what you can do and you focus on your north star, which is what you must do to delight the customer.” This includes ALL types of customers, &, in fact, it wasn’t just us who experienced these educational hurdles.

A survey conducted by Hobsons and Hanover Research reported that 71% of college students during the pandemic have trouble staying focused and completing their coursework in a hybrid or virtual setting. As the line between home and school/work blurs, finding a time and space to study becomes difficult and strains students' mental health. Students begin lacking the motivation to sit down and lull over a textbook or computer screen for study time.

Our target audience is college students, but we know that college students are not a monolith. Millions of students live with learning disabilities, many balance work and school,  multiple have families to tend to, and others are first-generation college students like myself, struggling to transition without the proper tools. According to UCSD’s School of Psychology, spaced practice is effective in pedagogy, helping students subconsciously reinforce topics. Our team thought BIG by increasing accessibility & serving as a helping hand in supporting ALL types of students.

So with our target audience in mind, we wanted to make sure that our product was as customer-obsessed as possible—something simple but effective. We wanted to make something that wouldn’t require the user to download any extra apps, pay extra fees, or do any more work than necessary.

As the UX Designer and Alexa Skill Lead for Team Magica, I spearheaded the development of our groundbreaking project. By creating captivating UX mockups, I was able to craft an immersive experience that captivated Amazon leaders. With a passion for innovation, my role was pivotal in securing funding for our hackathon team. Combining user-centric design principles and cutting-edge technology, we aimed to revolutionize the way people interact with voice assistants. Together, we strive to make a lasting impact and shape the future of AI-powered experiences.

Alexa Review is the study buddy that you wish you had sooner. Essentially, Alexa is utilized as a learning tool that quizzes the user in random time intervals when “review mode” is activated. This feature allows the user to harness study strategies such as active recall and spaced repetition without having to actually do the heavy lifting of figuring out how to employ such techniques on their own.

The idea behind Alexa Review is when Alexa is in review mode, in a span of a few hours or until the user quits, Alexa at random times asks questions directly from the student’s coursework. Rather than making the conscious decision to sit down with a textbook or have a lightning round of questions that is taxing to the brain, the student can walk away and do their thing. This joins the memory techniques of association, spaced practice, and mind palaces.

Our team’s vision for Alexa Review is an inclusive product that is useful for college students not just in the US but around the world. Review Mode 2.0 is an expansion of our current system with new features such as a point system so students see their progress - motivating them to continue using Alexa Review and integration with other apps/software widely used by students which would make Alexa Review more appealing and give students even more support. 

Team 'Magica' won 1st place at the 2022 Amazon Future Engineer Hackathon.

The team was able to secure funding for team development.

Increased creativity and innovation by experimenting with new ideas and technologies.

Learned to work under pressure and problem-solve in a time-constrained environment.

Gained exposure to the latest tools and technologies used in the industry.

Improved teamwork and communication skills by working closely with team members.