How can Prodigy Education enhance its math game's avatar customization to increase student engagement?

Introduction

Enhancing Prodigy Education's math game avatar customization to increase student engagement is a critical opportunity to improve user experience and drive long-term retention. As we explore this challenge, we'll focus on understanding our users, identifying key pain points, and developing innovative solutions that align with Prodigy's educational mission and business goals.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (5 mins)

• Looking at the product context, I'm thinking Prodigy might be targeting a specific age range of students. Could you help me understand the primary age group and grade levels we're focusing on with this math game?

Why it matters: Determines the complexity and style of avatar customization options Expected answer: Elementary to middle school students, ages 6-13 Impact on approach: Would tailor customization options to be age-appropriate and engaging for this demographic

• Considering user behavior, I'm curious about the current engagement patterns. Can you share insights on how often students currently interact with their avatars and if there are any specific features that are particularly popular or underutilized?

Why it matters: Helps identify areas of opportunity and existing strengths Expected answer: Students interact with avatars weekly, with clothing options being popular but hairstyles underutilized Impact on approach: Would focus on expanding popular features and revamping underused ones

• Thinking about the product lifecycle, where does avatar customization sit in terms of priority for Prodigy? Is this seen as a core feature for engagement or more of a supplementary element?

Why it matters: Influences the scope and resources we might allocate to this improvement Expected answer: Avatar customization is seen as a key driver for engagement but hasn't been updated recently Impact on approach: Would suggest a significant overhaul with potential new features and integration with other game elements

• Considering company alignment, what are the key metrics Prodigy is looking to improve through enhanced avatar customization? Are we primarily focused on daily active users, session length, or other specific engagement metrics?

Why it matters: Ensures our solution aligns with broader company goals Expected answer: Primary focus on increasing average session length and weekly active users Impact on approach: Would design features that encourage frequent check-ins and longer play sessions