Challenge C – Prototype

Updated: Nov, 5th, 2025

Authors: Yiran Han, Justin

Brief Project Intro:

Our project, “Building Better Study Habits,” was created to help students understand how learning works and develop more effective study strategies. The idea came from our shared experience as students — we’ve all struggled at some point with procrastination, motivation, and maintaining focus. By addressing these challenges, we aim to provide accessible, psychology-based guidance for learners who want to study smarter rather than longer.

The main goals of this project are to explain how studying affects the brain, explore effective learning techniques such as active recall and spaced repetition, and promote healthy habits that support focus and memory.

During the process, we communicated regularly and shared drafts through Google Docs and Mattermost. Despite one team member’s unexpected situation, we managed to stay coordinated and complete the prototype smoothly. The experience helped us strengthen our time-management and collaboration skills, which we plan to carry into the final project.

Understand (Discover, Interpret, Specify)

DESCRIBE THE CHALLENGE:

University students often face difficulty forming sustainable study habits and regulating motivation. Without guided habit-building strategies and cognitive scaffolding, they are more likely to procrastinate and experience reduced academic performance and confidence. 

CONTEXT AND AUDIENCE:

Typical Learner:
The primary audience is undergraduate students who aim to do well academically but struggle with consistent study habits. They attend classes and understand content, yet procrastinate or lack routine when managing their time and workload.

Needs & Goals:
These students want to build reliable study habits, improve motivation, and reduce procrastination. Their goal is not only to get better grades, but also to feel more confident and less stressed about school.

Extreme Case 1 – Overwhelmed High-Achiever:
Some highly-motivated students create very ambitious study plans but become overwhelmed or burnt out. They need simple, sustainable strategies and reminders to pace themselves instead of aiming for perfection.

Extreme Case 2 – Low-Motivation Student:
Others struggle to start tasks due to low motivation or confidence. They benefit from small-step habit-building approaches, encouragement, and tools that make studying feel manageable and rewarding. 

POV STATEMENT:

A student who understands course content but lacks discipline to follow a study plan needs small, achievable habit-forming steps and positive reinforcement so that they can develop sustainable study habits and gain confidence in their academic progress. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Primary Learning Objectives
By the end of this resource, learners will be able to:

• Identify common causes of procrastination and how they relate to academic stress and self-regulation.
  
• Apply at least two habit-building strategies (e.g., time-boxing, task chunking, cue-routine-reward model) to structure daily study routines.
  
• Use one motivational planning tool (e.g., weekly goal map, reward checklist, study motivation tracker) to support consistent study habits.
  
• Evaluate their own study behaviors and identify one area for improvement using self-reflection prompts.

Sub-Objectives / “Below the surface”
Learners will also:

• Recognize emotional triggers (e.g., overwhelm, fear of failure) that impact study behavior.
  
• Practice self-compassion and reduce negative self-talk around academic productivity.
  
• Build meta-cognitive awareness by reflecting on why certain strategies work best for them.
  
• Increase confidence in their ability to maintain study routines and academic motivation. 

Plan (Ideate, Sketch, Elaborate)

IDEATION:

For our brainstorming, we started by talking about common problems students face when studying — especially procrastination and staying focused. We shared personal experiences and wrote down ideas together in a simple Google Doc. Some of the first ideas were things like a study timer, a motivation quote generator, and a habit-tracking checklist.

After some discussion, we agreed that it would be more helpful to focus on something practical and realistic — a small tool that helps students plan short study goals, track their daily progress, and stay motivated.

Our main idea is a “Study Habit Support Tool” that helps students stay consistent with their learning routine by combining small goals, reflection prompts, and gentle motivation reminders.

STORYBOARD OR SCRIPT:

Webpage 1: Why Do We Procrastinate?

Content:

• Introduce the psychology behind procrastination — how our brain prefers short-term comfort over long-term goals.
  
• Briefly explain concepts like reward system and dopamine cycle.
  
• Include a short self-reflection question: “When do you find yourself putting things off the most?”

Webpage 2: How to Build Better Study Habits

Content:

• Present practical habit-building strategies, such as “start small,” “set clear goals,” and “use visual reminders.”
  
• Discuss psychological techniques like implementation intentions (“If it’s 7 p.m., I will start reading for 20 minutes.”).
  
• Include an interactive checklist or example routine.

Webpage 3: Focus and Motivation Tips

Content:

• Discuss environmental and mental preparation (e.g., decluttering your workspace, breaking large tasks).
  
• Introduce Pomodoro and Active Recall techniques.
  
• Add short motivational quotes and a “Try This” section for mini challenges like “Study 15 minutes with no phone.”

Webpage 4: Reflection and Self-Tracking

Content:

• Encourage users to reflect on what worked well each day.
  
• Provide a sample “Study Log” template where students can record their goals, obstacles, and progress.
  
• Explain how reflection supports long-term memory and motivation.
  

PRINCIPLES APPLIED:

• Coherence Principle:
  We removed unnecessary visuals or text distractions, keeping the focus on the study strategies and reflection tools.
  
• Signaling Principle:
  Each page uses clear headings (e.g., “Why We Procrastinate”, “How to Build Better Habits”) and bullet points to highlight the main ideas, guiding learners’ attention.
  
• Segmenting Principle:
  The content is divided into short, focused sections—one concept per webpage—so that learners can process information step by step.
  
• Personalization Principle:
  The tone is conversational and encouraging (“You can do this!”), helping users feel supported and engaged.
  
• Contiguity Principle:
  Texts are placed near relevant visuals to ensure learners can easily connect explanations with illustrations.