Case Study Shlomeet: Combating Social Outcast Among Children
Shlomeet is an award-winning app developed during a hackathon to address social outcast issues among children. It provides an emotional digital diary for kids and a data dashboard for educators to quickly recognize social situations.
Project Overview
1
Inspiration
The project was inspired by a mother's concern for her toddler growing up in a challenging modern social reality.
2
Collaboration
A team of parents in the tech industry came together to develop the tool.
3
Goal
The aim is to ensure no child faces social outcast without anyone knowing about it.
The Challenge
1
Emotional Expression
Kids are not taught how to express their emotions effectively.
2
Digital Tools
Educators need digital tools to quickly assess social status in the classroom.
3
Embarrassment
Children experiencing social outcast are often too embarrassed to share with adults.
4
Silent Struggle
Children wish educators knew what they're going through without having to tell them directly.
The Solution
For Kids
A personal digital daily emotional diary app for children to express their feelings.
For Educators
A dashboard providing social mapping to quickly identify and address issues in the classroom.
Research Methodology
Interviews
Conducted with target users including children, educators, and parents.
Questionnaire
Google form spread to gather data on needs and experiences.
Market Research
Analyzed pros and cons of similar products in the market.
International Insights
Studied emotional social education practices in Denmark.
Key Research Findings
Peak Vulnerability
Social outcast and bullying are most prevalent between 5th and 8th grades.
Silent Struggle
Children want educators to know their social situations but are too embarrassed to speak up.
Digital Need
Educators lack quick digital tools for early recognition of children's social situations.
Digital Comfort
Educators believe kids will share more via a digital tool that reduces embarrassment.
Competitive Analysis
Insights from Denmark
1
Emotional Validation
Daily use of validated emotions increases well-being and decreases bullying among children.
2
Preventive Measures
Educators who include social emotional education in school help prevent bullying.
3
Holistic Approach
Combining emotional education with digital tools can create a more supportive environment.
Business Model
1
Initial Phase
License per school model for pilot testing.
2
Post-Pilot
Transition to a "sell module" with cost per user.
3
Near-Term Goal
Run a pilot in 1-2 schools to gather data and refine the product.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Innovative solution
User-friendly design
Addresses critical need
Weaknesses
New to market
Limited initial data
Opportunities
Growing awareness of social issues
Increasing tech adoption in schools
Threats
Existing competition
Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Core Features
Digital diary for kids and dashboard for educators.
User Testing
Pilot testing in select classrooms to gather feedback.
Iterative Development
Regular updates based on user input and observed usage patterns.
Data Security
Robust measures to protect sensitive information of minors.
Mental Module & User Journey
1
Login
Child accesses app with secure, age-appropriate authentication.
2
Emotion Selection
Child chooses from a range of emotion icons to represent their feelings.
3
Journal Entry
Optional space for the child to elaborate on their emotions or experiences.
4
Data Aggregation
System compiles data for educator dashboard, maintaining child privacy.
Product Design
Child Interface
Age-appropriate design for 4th-6th grade students.
Educator Dashboard
Clear visualization of classroom social and emotional data.
Prototype Testing Results
1
Positive Reception
100% of kids felt good about sharing their emotions through the app.
2
Engagement
All participants expressed willingness to use the app independently in the future.
3
Feature Request
50% of kids wanted to share more information than currently allowed.
4
Challenges
Some hesitation in sharing extremely unpleasant situations noted.
The Challenge and Solution
1
Social Outcast Struggle
Social outcast is a sensitive issue for both children and educators. Many kids are not taught how to express their emotions, leading to embarrassment and reluctance to share with parents or teachers.
2
Educators Need Digital Tools
Educators are seeking digital tools to quickly understand the social dynamics and well-being in their classrooms. They believe children will be more willing to share their social status through a digital platform.
3
Comprehensive Solution
The app provides a personal digital diary for children to express their emotions, coupled with a dashboard that gives educators insight into the social and emotional state of their classroom.
Future Directions
1
Expanded Testing
Implement in a whole school for comprehensive feedback.
2
Agile Development
Continuous improvement based on user feedback and observed patterns.
3
Feature Enhancement
Add new functionalities to address emerging needs and challenges.
4
Impact Assessment
Measure long-term effects on bullying and social outcast reduction.
Retrospective conclusions
Ongoing Testing
The immediate goal is to continue testing the product by implementing it in a whole school that has volunteered to adopt it into their active routine.
Addressing Bullying
We are truly excited about the potential of our product to assist in addressing bullying and social outcasting that children face.
Continuous Improvement
We will continue to tighten the product based on the feedback we receive, adding new features and functionalities in an agile manner to meet evolving needs.