Usability Testing

1
Usability Testing Web DesignJan Knight,
Research Specialist Senior
2
LTC Services

• Faculty can explore uses of technology in
  teaching research
• Assist faculty to transform ideas into effective
  teaching strategies
• Implement strategies for enhanced student
  learning
• Serve faculty, TAs, Colleges, Departments,
  Administrative departments

3
How we Help

• Faculty work area facilities, hardware
  software
• Consulting
• Workshops
• Help Desk for Instructional Tools

4
Services Tools

• Instructional Assessment, evaluation design
• Graphic Design
• Usability Web Design
• Programming Database design
• Audio/Visual Media Services
• Instructional Tools
• D2L (Campus wide Course Mgmt System)
• Podcasts, Blogs, POLIS, Caucus, Breeze

5
Usability Testing

• 2 plus years
• Primarily web sites - can be any online tool or
  interface
• Campus wide service mostly administrative
  departments
• Sometimes usability only for tweaking
• More often pre web design

6
Usability

• Make user interface easy to use
• Make content easy to find
• Can users accomplish tasks first time they visit
  the site?
• Buy products, sign up for conference etc.
• Continue to create favorable impression so
  theyll return

7
Process

• NOT a focus group environment
• Qualitative testing NOT quantitative
• No eye tracking software
• No video taping
• No quantitative metrics
• On a shoestring
• Qualitative testing of 5-7 people
• 5 people will find 80 of what you need to know

8
Process

• Require background information form
• Purpose of the site
• Primary secondary audiences
• Branding strategy for site
• What should user go away with?
• Typical tasks each audience needs to perform
• Interactive needs? (online forms, registration,
  etc.)

9
Subjects

• Enlist subjects per demographics of audiences
  (from campus)
• Typically not familiar with the site
• 2 or 3 for each audience
• Technical skills vary
• Schedule one-on-one meetings
• 45 minutes approximately
• Incentives for participation

10
Process (cont)

• If tweaking site - ask to accomplish typical
  tasks
• Document how easy, where look, what say,
  confidence level
• If redesign make more general
• Browse around. General questions

11
Process (cont)

• Sit with tester one-on-one
• (Ask, Observe, Note taker)
• Introduce role/scenario of user
• Before showing site introduce the concept/need of
  the site
• Ask for keywords, phrases that come to mind
• Look at home page test expectations of
  navigation labels

12
Process (cont)

• Speak Aloud Protocol
• Observe mouse movement, listen
• Be neutral when asking questions

13
Process (cont)

• General questions
• Now you know site function, what top things
  would you use the most?
• Whats missing?
• General comments re layout, design, colors,
  features, photos etc.

14
Usability Report Presentation

• Present to client, stakeholders, designers
• Document methodology
• Include background information sheet
• Include ADA (accessibility) testing report or
  general info on accessibility
• Categorize findings
• Issues Recommendations
• Expectation of Labels suggestions for new labels
• Include input from Interface Design review

15
Usability Guidelines

• Structure site to mirror users tasks - not the
  way the organization is structured
• Keep copy brief scannable
• Make sure pages load quickly (1 second)
• Avoid irritations- splash pages, animation
• Photos --Users connect with photos of real
  people looking at them
• Alert users of format size of download
• Rules Regulations Checklist PDF 62K
• Include Adobe Reader link on page or site

16
Usability Guidelines (cont)

• Link Colors
• Unvisited links blue and visited links
  red/purple. Helps users know what theyve visited
  aids task accomplishment
• People Links
• People expect information about the person
  (e.g. a bio) not an email to communicate with
  them
• Link to short bio instead

17
Usability Guidelines (cont)

• Online forms for membership, registration or
  donations
• Provide formats for dates, credit cards etc.
• Dates - mm/dd/yyyy
• Make it clear easy what to type
• Use clear drop down menus for options
• Asterisk or color code mandatory fields
• Confirm submit with immediate page

18
Usability Guidelines (cont)

• Hyperlinks on page
• NO
• Click Here for information on volunteer
  opportunities
• YES
• Be sure to check out our volunteer
  opportunities.

19
Writing for the Web

• People dont read..they scan
• Provide scannability
• Bullets, short blocks of text, headers, subheads,
  bolding, links
• Dont underline (looks like links)
• Dont capitalize everything
• Avoid too many different fonts
• Keep key text above the fold-avoid long scrolls
• Write for your audiences not jargon

20
Web Design Process

• Background information sheet
• Branding, purpose, audiences
• Usability testing findings
• Stakeholder questions findings
• Client input

21
Web Design Process (cont)

• Current site review current content chunks
• Decide what to keep, toss, add
• Card Sorting?
• Information Architecture
• Draft site map
• Word doc, flow chart
• Review how many levels deep

22
Web Design Process (cont)

• Review navigation labels/terms
• Functional headings resources, membership
• Audience headings students, staff, parents
• Outline copy needed for each part\
• Assign personnel on client side (write/edit)

23
Branding your site

• Consistency of design with other materials
• Logo tagline consistency
• Language keep simple, clear
• Look feel match image want to convey
• Create an emotion
• Be memorable

24
Web Site stickiness

• Create a site people want to return to
• Maintain up to date content
• Put updated news on home page
• Provide useful resources so users think of you as
  key resource on a topic
• Get people involved in activities
• Create forums for discussion
• Educate through quizzes
• Childrens sites games

25
Usability Clients

• History Department
• UA Parents Association
• Biology Project
• UA Foundation
• Diversity Resource Office
• Committee for Status of Women (CSW)
• External Relations
• Presidents Office
• Residence Life
• COH Business office

26
Web Design Projects

• Presidents Office
• External Relations (formerly Advancement)
• Residence Life
• CSW (Commission for Status of Women)
• In Progress
• UA Foundation, Advising Resource Center,
  University College.

27
(No Transcript)
28
(No Transcript)
29
(No Transcript)
30
Usability/Accessibility Resources

• Usable Web
• http//usableweb.com/
• Useit.com Jakob Neilsens Website
• http//useit.com
• WebStyle Guide
• www.webstyleguide.com/
• WebAIM-Web Accessibility in Mind
• www.webaim.org
• Accessibility Evaluation Tools
• www.webaim.org/articles/tools/

31
How We Can Help YouBuilding Course Faculty
WebsitesTraining and Support for Course
Management ToolsAssessment and
EvaluationInstructional DesignInstructional
BloggingUsability Testing for WebsitesDatabase/P
rogramming SupportEmerging TechnologiesAdapting
Open Source ApplicationsGraphic Design Services
for Instructional PurposesAudio and Video
Services for your classesDatabase and
Programming Support
Jan KnightResearch Specialist, Senior
520-626-1315jknight_at_email.arizona.eduwww.ltc.ar
izona.edu