AI English Learning App Progress Tracker

Visual PRD for the progress system, guided study plans, rewards, and recovery flow

System Model: Open Productivity Feel, Platform-Bound Study Logic

The goal is to deliver the motivation, clarity, and visible momentum of a strong task system without letting users create disconnected or invalid work items. Every trackable item must map back to an approved learning surface in this platform.

Open Productivity Expectation

  • XP for fast feedback
  • classes for player identity
  • repeat, scheduled, and one-off work shapes
  • day-completion bonus
  • pause and recovery behavior
  • tags, checklists, and urgency cues

Platform Implementation

  • Stars as persistent reward currency
  • soft learning archetypes instead of RPG combat classes
  • required recurring units, optional repeat practice units, and one-time learning units generated from real modules
  • Perfect Study Day for all due required work
  • snooze, low-pressure mode, pause, and rest
  • weak-item recovery, teacher/parent digest, and honest completion validation
Reference Concept Decision How It Should Look Here Implementation Meaning
Session momentum bar Adapt short-term progress bar inside a session or module visual feedback only; persistent economy remains stars and mastery progress
Unlock ladder Adapt Lightly optional study rank or journey tier ribbon cosmetic pacing layer only; do not gate core learning functions behind high level thresholds
Learner identity theme Adapt Carefully study archetype badges, themes, and focus suggestions identity layer only; no combat stats, no skill trees in MVP
Recurring required units Keep today plan, Daily Recital, required Journey tasks drives streaks, reminders, and Perfect Study Day
Repeat practice units Keep Softly repeatable optional practice cards generated from allowed modules counts toward momentum without needing harsh missed-day penalties
One-time study units Keep reading passages, scripts, make-up work, weak-word review packets one-off or recoverable study units
Inn / Rest Keep as Recovery rest banner, quiet reminder state, simplified plan protects learners from punishment-style collapse
Health / Death / Mana Avoid do not render not aligned with child-safe, education-first motivation

Primary Dashboard Visual

The dashboard is the progress command center. It should tell the learner what to do next from the platform's actual learning functions, show whether effort counted, and make recovery obvious without making the learner feel punished.

My Study Today
See what to do, what you finished, and what comes next
My Path is on Main task ready Parent note ready
My Streak
12
You studied for 12 days
My Stars
184
16 more stars for a new badge
Great Day
Yes
You can still finish all today's work
Words to Fix
9
6 word list, 3 speaking words
My Work Today Your study plan for today
Daily Recital: Finish today's part
Daily work | Speaking warm-up
Do today
Progress Done
Vocabulary Trainer: Finish 1 round
Main task | Word practice
Main task
Words done this round 18 / 25
Reading: Finish 1 passage
Reading work
Not yet
Reading progress 0 / 1
Word List: Review 5 words
Extra help
Try this
Words fixed 2 / 5
This Week Your study this week
Study days done 4 / 5 days
Great days: 3 Free pass left: 0 Read to get more
My Rewards See your stars and progress
Round progress 64 / 100
Stars today: 3 Next gift: frame at 200
My Learning See each part here

Vocabulary Trainer

Rounds done, words done, and level progress

Main part

Scenario Role-Play

Finish work, score change, and hard words

Speaking

Thinking Lab

Step progress and checklist

Thinking

AI DSE Reading

Passage progress and hints

DSE
Home Note For teacher or parent

Status: Trying hard, but still needs help

The student is studying well, but more hard words are building up. Next step: finish one Word List review before extra speaking work.

Cross-Client and Companion Experience

The tracker should behave as one system with different depth on each surface. Web is the full command center, mobile is the fast companion, and wearable surfaces should stay lightweight.

Web dashboard Full planning surface
My Work Today Today's work, main task, and help tips
My Rewards Stars, progress bar, and next gift
Home Note Parent and teacher message
  • best place for guided plan creation, task selection from modules, and rich dashboards
  • supports filters, tags, checklist editing, and full progress explanation
  • primary home for adult monitoring and reset/recovery administration
Phone view Today first
Do Today Daily Recital, 1 vocab round, reading
Quick View Today, All, Hard words, Catch Up
Rewards Stars today, streak, next gift
  • optimized for quick completion, reminders, and on-the-go review
  • must preserve event parity with web
  • needs clear refresh, sync, and filter behavior
Watch view Optional
12 day streak One-tap glance
Next work Daily Recital
  • use only for glanceable progress, reminders, or quick acknowledgment
  • do not make watch the main study surface
  • keep interaction count low and completion validity strict
Surface Must Support Can Be Lighter Design Implication
Web full dashboard, guided plan builder, adult digest, recovery controls none of the core tracker logic full-fidelity progress explanations and configuration
Mobile due-first lists, quick completion, streak, star wallet, filters, refresh dense reporting and advanced administration companion-first, fast, and resilient to interruption
Watch / widget glanceable reminders, streak glance, next-task cue full study flows and complex edits support action initiation, not deep task management

Loading and Empty-State Tips

The app should use loading, empty, and waiting states to teach better study behavior.

  • break big work into small steps
  • one vocab round is better than "study more"
  • do the hard work first

Filter Logic

Mobile pages should support filters similar in spirit to Due vs All, weak vs strong, and catch-up views.

  • Today
  • All
  • Catch Up
  • Hard Words

Settings Sync

Progress mode, reminder intensity, accessibility preferences, and language or audio settings should stay consistent across clients when possible.

Reward Stack, Stars, and XP-Style Visuals

Developers need to distinguish between what is persistent and what is only short-term feedback. The product's stored long-term reward is stars. However, an XP-like bar is still useful as on-screen motivation inside a session or daily plan.

Layer 1: Immediate Momentum Visual only

Use an XP-style fill bar during a session, round, or checklist completion. This helps the learner feel progress quickly, especially in Vocabulary Trainer, reading passages, and multi-step Thinking Lab flows.

Round progress 78 / 100
Layer 2: Daily Completion Real product logic

Show whether the learner met the daily minimum and whether all due required tasks were completed. These are different states and both should be stored.

Minimum goal met Great Day still possible
Layer 3: Weekly Rhythm Rolling 7-day logic

Weekly target bars show rhythm, not just raw volume. This is where rolling 7-day target completion and grace-day interpretation become visible.

Weekly target 6 / 7 rhythm points
Layer 4: Milestones Persistent progression

Milestones should unlock tangible, visible rewards such as Ari accessories, companions, frames, themes, and badges.

Accessory unlock Theme unlock Badge unlock
Total Stars
184
Next frame unlock at 200
Ari companion unlock at 240
Theme track unlock at 300

Developer Rule

Stars are cumulative and never lost. Session bars, XP-like fills, and module progress meters may reset visually, but stars and unlock history persist.

Optional Study Rank

The level pages suggest that a visible progression ladder can help pace unlock excitement. If desired, add a lightweight Study Rank or Journey Tier ribbon.

  • cosmetic and motivational only
  • can unlock themes, frames, or archetype badges
  • should not gate essential lessons, reminders, or recovery features

Currency Translation

This product should keep the economy simple: stars are the main persistent currency, while XP-style bars remain visual momentum indicators only.

Learner Identity Theme System

The product can use a soft identity layer so developers understand the intended feel. It should not adopt a literal RPG class system. Instead, it can use a learner identity theme layer that changes theme, orientation, and recommendation style without changing scoring fairness.

Book Star

Best visual fit for Vocabulary Trainer, Word List, and General Reading.

  • book, card, or notebook motifs
  • mastery rings and reading bars
  • focus suggestion: vocab round or reading passage

Speech Star

Best fit for Scenario Role-Play, Daily Recital, and Recite Your Script.

  • voice-wave, stage, or mic-inspired accents
  • retry and improvement cards
  • focus suggestion: one speaking completion with score lift

Think Star

Best fit for Thinking Lab, ARI support, and AI DSE Prep reading flows.

  • path, map, or plan-board visual language
  • step sequence, checklist, and preparation blocks
  • focus suggestion: critical thinking chain completion

Goal Star

Best fit for Journey Mode, streak retention, and comeback flows.

  • route, peak, and milestone markers
  • streak card, weekly rhythm, comeback banner
  • focus suggestion: hardest-task-first or catch-up block

How Developers Should Use This

  • theme dashboard accents or badge sets by archetype
  • change copy tone and highlight cards by learner identity
  • use archetypes to group recommendations, not to change scoring rules

What Not To Do

  • do not create combat stats, mana spend, or damage loops
  • do not gate learning content by archetype choice
  • do not make one archetype objectively better than another

Guided Plan Builder, Goal Design, and Smart Tips

The tracker must help users build meaningful study plans, but only from the platform's own functions and modules. Users should feel agency without being asked to invent arbitrary tasks disconnected from real learning surfaces.

1. Choose Goal Direction

Start from a real objective such as improve pronunciation, finish one reading passage, or recover weak words.

Specific Relevant

2. Pick From Allowed Modules

Select only from available surfaces such as Vocabulary Trainer, Word List, General Reading, Daily Recital, Scenario Role-Play, Thinking Lab, or DSE functions.

Module Function Unit

3. Configure Scope and Rhythm

Choose quantity, frequency, due timing, and recovery behavior from allowed options. The system then generates trackable study units.

Count Schedule Threshold

4. Generate Study Plan

The platform creates recurring required units, optional repeat units, or one-time units, then attaches stars, progress bars, and review logic.

Reward Review

How Users Create Trackable Work

  • Step 1: choose a real module or function from the platform
  • Step 2: choose the unit style the module allows, such as one round, one passage, one script attempt, or one review packet
  • Step 3: set frequency or due timing from approved options
  • Step 4: let the system generate the study item and attach completion rules automatically

UI Connection to the Progress System

  • Module card: user chooses from real available learning surfaces
  • Plan builder sheet: user selects scope, timing, and priority from structured controls
  • Generated study item: dashboard and reminders show the created item as part of the progress system
  • Completion event: actual learning flow sends validated events back to the tracker

Guided Plan Builder UI Flow

1. Open Planner

User clicks Add Study Plan from Dashboard, Journey, or a module page.

2. Choose Module

System shows only supported modules and functions, not a blank task field.

3. Choose Unit

User picks one allowed unit such as vocab round, reading passage, script attempt, or weak-word packet.

4. Set Rhythm

User chooses repeat pattern, target count, due day, and optional focus priority.

5. Generate

The system creates structured study items and adds them to the tracker, streak, reminders, and reward system.

Guided Plan Builder Visual Demo

Add Study Plan Step 2 of 4
Pick a learning part
Vocabulary Trainer
Word List
Reading
Speaking
Thinking Lab
DSE Reading
Pick what to do
Finish 1 round
Finish 2 rounds
Learn 10 words
Review hard words
Pick when
Every day
3 days a week
This week only
Before Friday
Pick help options
Main task
Extra task
Add reminder
Catch Up if missed
Plan preview Vocabulary Trainer: Finish 1 round
Every day
Shows in My Work Today
Gives stars when done

What This Demo Shows

  • the learner chooses from real platform parts, not from a blank task box
  • the learner still has control over amount, time, and priority
  • the system can explain the plan before saving it
  • the same builder can work for words, reading, speaking, thinking, and recovery plans

Student-Facing Copy Rule

In the real UI, builder buttons should use short ESL-friendly labels such as Pick a learning part, Pick what to do, and Pick when.

Selected Module Allowed User Choice System-Generated Study Item Why This Replaces Free Task Creation
Vocabulary Trainer 1 round, N rounds, target mastery count, daily repeat recurring required unit or repeat practice unit user still chooses scope and rhythm, but the unit always maps to a real trackable vocab flow
Word List review packet size, recovery priority, follow-up cadence recovery unit user configures recovery, but cannot invent unsupported review actions
General Reading 1 passage, passage count per week, due day one-time study unit or recurring reading target the planner creates valid reading work from real passage-based learning surfaces
Daily Recital activate, pause, or set daily recurrence window recurring required unit the learner gets Daily-like structure without manually typing a task each day
Scenario Role-Play scenario count, focus area, weekly speaking target repeat practice unit or one-time speaking unit the speaking plan stays tied to actual scenario sessions and validated score events
Recite Your Script assignment acceptance, attempt planning, due timing one-time study unit assignment work appears in the tracker without becoming vague free-form work
Thinking Lab lesson selection, stage cadence, focus priority ordered lesson unit step-based thinking work stays structured and sequential

Good Generated Study Items

  • Complete today's Daily Recital passage
  • Finish 1 Vocabulary Trainer round
  • Review 5 Word List weak words
  • Record Script 2 before Friday

What The UI Should Not Allow

  • blank free-text task creation disconnected from modules
  • vague plans such as "Do English"
  • items with no completion rule
  • made-up activities that the platform cannot validate

Contextual Smart Tips

Tips should be pulled from the current learner situation, not shown as random trivia.

  • Use a checklist when a task feels too big
  • Try the hardest task first when avoidance is visible
  • Turn a one-time reading plan into a recurring reading target if the learner needs steadier rhythm

Weekly Process Review

The tracker should support a light weekly review task for learners, parents, or teachers.

  • What tasks were repeatedly snoozed?
  • Which module is being avoided?
  • Should a recurring required unit become optional or simplified?

Sample Plan Templates

The platform can later ship prebuilt plan templates for common learner profiles using only approved functions and unit types.

  • exam-prep week
  • weak-vocabulary recovery
  • daily speaking confidence

Real Platform Mapping

The tracker must map to real platform functions, not just broad labels like "speaking" or "reading". The cards below show the visual and product meaning each module needs.

Word List

Counts as: weak-item recovery surface and plan-builder option

  • track weak-word backlog and recovery speed
  • show backlog severity when threshold is exceeded
  • allow optional use in normal mode and stronger prompting in recovery mode

Vocabulary Trainer

Counts as: core round and mastery engine, selectable in guided plan builder

  • visualize book, level, round, word, and task layers
  • show retries, pronunciation gate, and mastery status
  • support daily units by round plus mastery

General Reading

Counts as: reading passage completion

  • track passage finish, question set, time, and hint use
  • never treat hint usage as failure
  • show reading target progress as part of daily plan

Scenario Role-Play

Counts as: speaking completion plus improvement signal

  • show score breakdown and change from previous attempt
  • surface low-score word transfer into Word List
  • make retries visible without over-rewarding spam

Daily Recital

Counts as: strongest natural recurring required unit

  • should be visually treated as a streak anchor
  • simple completion bar and today badge
  • ideal location for supportive reminder loops

Recite Your Script

Counts as: assignment-like one-time speaking unit

  • show teacher assignment, attempt count, and due state
  • support bulk-upload classroom workflows
  • make completion validity strict and auditable

Thinking Lab

Counts as: ordered multi-step lesson

  • visualize step sequence and checklist completion
  • should feel like progress along a path, not random tasks
  • support current five-step flow first

ARI

Counts as: support signal, not primary completion by default

  • track usage and session support value
  • avoid falsely treating chat support as lesson completion
  • show in adult digest as context, not as core discipline proof

AI DSE Reading

Counts as: exam-oriented reading completion

  • support passage progress, hint usage, and due-state behavior
  • treat it as a real progress surface, not an appendix
  • prepare space for future group discussion logic

Journey Mode Visual Flow

1. Vocabulary

Round completion and mastery progress

Core
2. Reading

Passage and reasoning completion

Required
3. Speaking

Daily Recital or Scenario completion

Streak anchor
4. Thinking

Thinking Lab sequence or DSE prep

Path step
5. Reward and Review

Stars, weekly target, weak-item catch-up recommendation

Visible payoff

Modes, Urgency, Recovery, and Rest

Burnout prevention, snooze behavior, and recovery states matter as much as rewards. These should be visible states, not hidden backend flags.

Normal Mode

Full plan visible. Required and optional work both available.

Streak active Rewards normal

Catch-up Mode

Missed required work creates a bounded comeback path. Backlog is capped.

Recovery first Backlog cap: 2

Low-Pressure Mode

Reduced obligation density for overload, exam week, illness, or stress.

Simplified plan Reminder tone softened

Rest Mode

Recovery window that protects learners from collapse while preserving history and identity.

No punishment tone Return path ready

Urgency States

New Active Due soon Overdue Stale

Overdue and stale should become more visible, but not emotionally aggressive. Use structure, highlighting, and recovery wording rather than shame.

Snooze vs Pause vs Rest

  • Snooze: move one task out of today's immediate queue
  • Pause: temporarily suppress due pressure for a chosen area
  • Rest: broader recovery state protecting streak logic and mental load

Completion Validation and Event Flow

A progress tracker breaks if it rewards empty clicks. The backend must validate what actually counts, and the UI must make that logic legible to the learner and to adults monitoring them.

1. Activity Event

Module emits start, step, retry, or completion event.

2. Validation Layer

Check duplicate request IDs, completion rules, required thresholds, and valid state transitions.

3. Progress Calculator

Update daily minimum, perfect-day state, streak, weak queue, and module summary.

4. Reward Layer

Award stars, update milestone unlocks, and refresh visual progress meters.

5. Digest and Reminder Layer

Prepare learner prompts, adult digest status, and catch-up or rest recommendations.

Counts as Valid Completion

  • Vocabulary Trainer round reaches its defined completion end event
  • Daily Recital passage submitted as a finished attempt
  • Thinking Lab step sequence reaches the required stage
  • Reading passage plus question set reaches valid completion rule

Does Not Count

  • opening a module and leaving immediately
  • client resending the same completion event twice
  • partial clicks that never reach the valid end state
  • ARI support conversation treated as lesson completion without policy approval

Developer Payloads and Example Records

The written PRD contains the fuller data model. The sample payloads below show how the visual system and the backend rules line up in practice.

Example Progress Activity

{
  "activity_id": "act_4839",
  "learner_id": "learner_102",
  "activity_surface": "reading_vocab",
  "activity_subsurface": "vocabulary_trainer",
  "activity_unit_type": "vocab_round",
  "display_name": "Vocabulary Trainer - Level 3 Round 2",
  "completion_rule_json": {
    "required_end_event": "round_completed",
    "minimum_words_mastered": 10
  },
  "validation_source": "server_module_event",
  "due_date": "2026-05-27",
  "tags": ["journey", "daily_goal", "focus_task"],
  "difficulty_band": "core",
  "focus_candidate_boolean": true,
  "status": "active",
  "urgency_state": "due_today"
}

Example Daily Snapshot

{
  "learner_id": "learner_102",
  "local_date": "2026-05-27",
  "scheduled_day_boolean": true,
  "minimum_goal_met": true,
  "all_due_tasks_completed": false,
  "perfect_day_boolean": false,
  "stars_earned_today": 3,
  "catch_up_required": false,
  "primary_surfaces_used": [
    "vocabulary_trainer",
    "daily_recital"
  ]
}

Example Adult Digest

{
  "digest_id": "dig_8112",
  "learner_id": "learner_102",
  "audience_type": "parent",
  "overall_status": "strong_effort_weak_mastery",
  "summary_text": "The learner is showing up, but weak-word recovery is lagging behind new vocabulary exposure.",
  "recommended_next_action": "Review 5 Word List items before optional speaking practice.",
  "weak_surface_list": ["word_list", "scenario_role_play_transfer"]
}

Example Validation Audit

{
  "validation_audit_id": "val_1921",
  "learner_id": "learner_102",
  "activity_id": "act_4839",
  "event_type": "activity_completed",
  "validation_result": "duplicate_ignored",
  "reason_code": "request_id_seen",
  "request_id": "req_9ad7f",
  "created_at": "2026-05-27T18:42:22Z"
}

Extensions, Reporting, and Future Companion Hooks

Developers should leave room for alternate views and integrations even if the official web and mobile clients remain the source of truth.

Reporting Layer

Support exported digests, classroom or parent summaries, and internal analytics views without rewriting the main tracker logic.

  • adult digest endpoint
  • weekly summary export
  • module-level breakdowns

Webhook and Event Hooks

Emit stable events so later tools can listen for completions, recovery triggers, unlocks, or reminder outcomes.

  • completion event hook
  • milestone unlock hook
  • catch-up or rest-mode hook

Companion Surfaces

Leave room for widgets, wearable reminders, or lightweight alternate displays without moving core validation out of the main platform.

  • widget or watch glance
  • notification card
  • teacher kiosk or reporting panel

Delivery Priorities

MVP Must Have

  • dashboard command center
  • guided plan builder using approved platform functions only
  • stars wallet and milestone treatment
  • XP-style session bars
  • Daily Recital streak anchor
  • Vocabulary Trainer and Word List recovery integration
  • completion validation and duplicate protection

Phase 2

  • full Thinking Lab next-gen support
  • richer adult digest reporting
  • optional archetype themes and badges
  • optional focus-session timer integration

Always Avoid

  • health damage, death, or punishment theatrics
  • rewarding empty clicks
  • class systems that change score fairness
  • public shame or harsh overdue messaging