PowerNotes
Visit Site
http://powernotes.comRoles and Services
UI/UX
Credits
Brett Peterson
Project Management
Camilo Bravo
Engineer
Ashley Lim
Product Design
Deliverables
Brand Book
UI/UX
Web App
Web Design
01.
Overview
PowerNotes is a research-to-writing productivity tool with a quick browser extension for saving and organizing web content seamlessly. It lets you create annotated outlines effortlessly. Once you’ve gathered your research, the web app facilitates easy assessment, reorganization and export options, streamlining the transition from research to drafting. The rise of conversation AI posed a big challenge - Research shows that 90% of students use ChatGPT for assignments so a critical need arose for a strategic response. To effectively address the challenge, PowerNotes partnered with Manifold to take a proactive step towards integrating generative AI into the academic environment. This effort also marked a pivotal expansion into a B2B2C model, enabling institutions to offer PowerNotes to students as a key tool for academic research and writing, aligning with the evolving needs of modern education.
02.
Challenge
Integrating AI into PowerNotes wasn’t about treating it as a mere add-on. Instead, we aimed to design an AI-driven solution that seamlessly fit into the existing tool and workflow, ensuring ease of use and universal value. To achieve this, we conducted interviews with over 15 students and professors, gathering invaluable insights from diverse perspectives. Our primary goal was to create a platform that upholds academic integrity while promoting efficient learning. By fostering collaboration between educators and learners, we sought to build an inclusive and transparent process for tackling research and writing assignments effectively.
03.
Solution
Research can be overwhelming, with students often spending hours navigating irrelevant information or juggling multiple sources. To address this, we introduced the Discovery AI feature, leveraging conversational AI to enhance the research process and act as a virtual tutor. Students can now interact with AI to uncover connections between collected quotes or request topic sentences that tie their research together, streamlining the writing process. This solution seamlessly integrates with institutional systems like Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace, and library platforms such as ProQuest and EBSCO. Faculty can customize the extent of AI tool usage within assignments, with all interactions logged for transparency and review. To address academic integrity, the Insight Activity Log tracks the learning process, enabling professors to assess engagement and identify potential issues early. Features like the Insight Score compare student work throughout the research process, offering a comprehensive view of AI usage and ensuring fairness in evaluation. The redesigned UI and AI-driven features have received positive feedback during their alpha rollout across a growing number of institutions. My contributions to PowerNotes’ B2B2C offering have driven adoption by over 80 institutions, solidifying it as the company’s primary revenue stream. Over three years of collaboration, my team at Manifold and I have delivered a holistic PowerNotes product experience, encompassing product design, user experience, and brand identity, helping establish the platform as a leader in academic research tools.
