Amina Tayyub

Working on the spectrum between product design & product management to shape experiences grounded in real human needs.

Amina Tayyub

Working on the spectrum between product design & product management to shape experiences grounded in real human needs.

Amina Tayyub

Working on the spectrum between product design & product management to shape experiences grounded in real human needs.

OFFLINE-FIRST TEACHING EXPERIENCE

OFFLINE-FIRST TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Designing for connectivity constrained environments

Designing for connectivity constrained environments

Problem

Problem

Over 50% teachers lack reliable internet, making lessons & digital training inaccessible.

Over 50% teachers lack reliable internet, making lessons & digital training inaccessible.

Business Impact

Business Impact

Expanded accessibility to low-connectivity regions which extended product access to 60% of offline users.

Expanded accessibility to low-connectivity regions which extended product access to 60% of offline users.

User Impact

User Impact

Increased offline lesson usage, improved trust, reduced support tickets.

Increased offline lesson usage, improved trust, reduced support tickets.

My Contribution (as product design manager)

My Contribution (as product design manager)

  • Created the offline-first UX framework

  • Worked closely with PM & engineering for feasibility and delivery

  • Defined metrics and success criteria

  • Guided rollout strategy with support teams

  • Led design reviews and ensured cross-functional alignment

  • Created the offline-first UX framework

  • Worked closely with PM & engineering for feasibility and delivery

  • Defined metrics and success criteria

  • Guided rollout strategy with support teams

  • Led design reviews and ensured cross-functional alignment

Context

Context

Many schools operate with inconsistent or unavailable internet. Teachers often have only brief time between classes. Critical content such as lesson plans and trainings must be reliably available offline to support day-to-day teaching.

Many schools operate with inconsistent or unavailable internet. Teachers often have only brief time between classes. Critical content such as lesson plans and trainings must be reliably available offline to support day-to-day teaching.

Challenge

Challenge

  • Users lacked clarity on what works offline

  • Downloads required too many steps

  • No progress, storage, or status feedback

  • Backend supported offline storage, but UX didn’t reflect it

  • Users lacked clarity on what works offline

  • Downloads required too many steps

  • No progress, storage, or status feedback

  • Backend supported offline storage, but UX didn’t reflect it

Low adoption + low trust

Low adoption + low trust

User Context (what Informed the design)

User Context (what Informed the design)

These insights shaped the offline-first navigation and content model.

  • Teachers teach back-to-back classes and only get minutes of internet access

  • They prioritize predictability over aesthetics, “tell me what works offline”

  • App usage often happens on low-storage, low-RAM Android devices

  • Many users share devices, so content needs clear states

These insights shaped the offline-first navigation and content model.

  • Teachers teach back-to-back classes and only get minutes of internet access

  • They prioritize predictability over aesthetics, “tell me what works offline”

  • App usage often happens on low-storage, low-RAM Android devices

  • Many users share devices, so content needs clear states

Key Solutions

Key Solutions

1. Offline-First Interaction System

1. Offline-First Interaction System

  • Visual indicators for online/offline status

  • Clear labels for offline-ready content

  • Disabled states with explanations for online-only actions

  • Visual indicators for online/offline status

  • Clear labels for offline-ready content

  • Disabled states with explanations for online-only actions

2. Download & Storage Controls

2. Download & Storage Controls

  • Bulk download options for lessons and training

  • Storage usage indicator + low-storage warnings

  • Ability to delete or update content through a lightweight Download Manager

  • Bulk download options for lessons and training

  • Storage usage indicator + low-storage warnings

  • Ability to delete or update content through a lightweight Download Manager

3. Real-Time Feedback

3. Real-Time Feedback

  • Progress bars for downloads

  • Sync success/failure alerts

  • Offline badges on content that’s already saved

  • Progress bars for downloads

  • Sync success/failure alerts

  • Offline badges on content that’s already saved

4. Seamless Syncing

4. Seamless Syncing

  • Automatic background syncing once the app reconnects

  • Smooth transitions between offline and online views

  • Automatic background syncing once the app reconnects

  • Smooth transitions between offline and online views

Impact

Impact

Initial rollout: 30% of user base

  • Increased use of lesson plans in offline mode

  • Higher trust in the app due to predictable behavior

  • Reduced support tickets related to “content not loading”

  • Improved adoption of training materials in low-connectivity schools

Initial rollout: 30% of user base

  • Increased use of lesson plans in offline mode

  • Higher trust in the app due to predictable behavior

  • Reduced support tickets related to “content not loading”

  • Improved adoption of training materials in low-connectivity schools

Metrics Being Tracked

Metrics Being Tracked

  • Offline lesson access frequency

  • Download and sync completion rates

  • Total users engaging with offline mode

  • Time spent using offline features

  • Offline lesson access frequency

  • Download and sync completion rates

  • Total users engaging with offline mode

  • Time spent using offline features

Next Steps (for next cycle's planning)

Next Steps (for next cycle's planning)

  • Conduct in-person usability sessions in rural schools

  • Optimize background syncing flows

  • Expand offline compatibility for more API-driven features

  • Create an onboarding tutorial for new offline functionality

  • Build a full Download Manager for easier content planning

  • Conduct in-person usability sessions in rural schools

  • Optimize background syncing flows

  • Expand offline compatibility for more API-driven features

  • Create an onboarding tutorial for new offline functionality

  • Build a full Download Manager for easier content planning

© 2025 Amina Tayyub

© 2025 Amina Tayyub

© 2025 Amina Tayyub

© 2025 Amina Tayyub