Interaction Design

Wheeley

Interactive tool for building kids' spelling and word-formation skills

Role

Product Designer – Led research, prototyping, and usability testing, designing this project from scratch with input from TDSB educators.

Target Users

Children (Age 4+) learning basic literacy skills.

Parents and Educators looking for interactive learning tools.

Dilemma

The problem that started it all

Like many parents today, I watched my daughter struggle with a common challenge - a strong reluctance to write, which affected her performance in spelling tests.

Lack of Engagement

Despite her intelligence and creativity, she dreaded writing practice.

Emotional Struggle

Practicing words felt like a chore, turning homework into a daily battle.

Negative Outcomes

She struggled to secure good score in spelling tests.

Chaos

Existing solutions compounded the problem

I explored existing solutions and tried alphabet tiles, a popular choice for spelling practice and word formations.

At first, they seemed promising - tactile and versatile. But they quickly revealed their flaws.

Overwhelming

My daughter would spend more time searching for the right letter than actually spelling.

Frustration with Setup

Setting up the tiles for each word was time-consuming.

Storage & Organization Issues

Storing them afterward was a hassle, often leading to lost pieces.

Eureka

Turning frustration into a DIY solution

My goal was simple - make spelling feel like play, not work. I used an old canister as a base and put adjacent paper rings marked with A-Z letters.

By rotating the rings, my daughter could build words without the frustration of writing. The results were immediate and transformative.

Playful Learning

It wasn’t homework anymore—it was a game.

Increased Enthusiasm

She spent hours spinning the rings, experimenting with words.

Higher Test Scores

Within weeks, her spelling test scores improved.

Testing

From living room to the classroom

I used a 3D printer to create and test multiple prototype versions in the classroom.

Feedback

01 "Allow adding or removing rings based on word length"

This led to the modular connection system.

02 "Differentiating vowels from consonants would be helpful"

This became a key feature for visual scaffolding.

03 "Bigger wheels are easier to spin"

Incorporated the size to fit small hands.

04 "Why so many letters? "

This inspired the single-character visibility design.

A key challenge in teaching is meeting every student’s needs—from top performers to those who struggle. Kinesthetic learning tools help bridge that gap, making this especially valuable.