01Context
I coordinate a Qur'an memorization class (Kelas Ikhwan) at Rumah Quran Tanjung Priok. Every session has three roles with different needs:
02Problem
All progress was logged in WhatsApp chats. The format was inconsistent, some entries were missed, and some entries were just "???" that no one could decipher anymore. The coordinator struggled to see who was falling behind, and participants had no way to check their own progress.
03Decision #1: validate first, then build
The "safest" option was to start with a Google Form. But the manual WhatsApp process already worked and was proven to be used. The problem wasn't a lack of logging habit, but the absence of structure. So I skipped the Form stage and went straight to building a lightweight app that provided that structure.
An MVP isn't always the "smallest version." It's the smallest step that answers an unanswered question. Here, the question was no longer "will people log their progress?" but "how do I make this log useful?"
04Solution: one app, three views
- Input: the mentor logs a recitation in a consistent format within seconds.
- Dashboard: the coordinator sees the whole class's progress and who needs support.
- My Progress: every participant has a personal link to view their progress without logging in.
05Decision #2: platform pivot
I built the first version on an AI-based artifact platform because it was the fastest option. I then tested it with real mentor and participant accounts. It turned out that outside of my own account, they couldn't open or save data.
I moved to Firebase (database) and GitHub Pages (hosting): still free, accessible to anyone via a link, and enough for a small community that trusts each other. The first session's data was migrated straight from the WhatsApp notes.
Lesson: a feature that works perfectly in your own account won't necessarily work for users. Test with real users as early as possible.
06Results
- 44 participants tracked, with 2 mentors logging entries across 2 sessions a week. The app is still used regularly.
- Participants can track their own progress and see their classmates' progress, which became a source of motivation.
- No more "???" entries. Every recitation is logged in the same format.
07Reflection
- Test with real users from day one. The platform pivot could have been avoided if mentor-account access had been tested earlier.
- Define success metrics from the start. I don't yet have "before" data to compare against. Going forward, I'll measure the % of recitations logged and average progress per participant per week.
- Watch for the side effects of social comparison. Seeing a classmate's progress can motivate, but it can also discourage participants who are slower. Next iteration: personal progress as the default, comparison as an option.