Assignment 3 - Usability Report. A Paper Presented in Partial Fulfilment Of the Requirements Of EDID 6508 Developing Instructional Media

Transcription

1 EDID6508 Usability Report 1 Assignment 3 - Usability Report A Paper Presented in Partial Fulfilment Of the Requirements Of EDID 6508 Developing Instructional Media Semester /2017 Terry Hall (ID# ) University of the West Indies, Open Campus Dr Leroy Hill Course Coordinator and Facilitator April 25, 2017

2 EDID6508 Usability Report 2 Contents Executive Summary... 3 Introduction... 4 Findings... 4 Recommendations and Conclusion... 6 Appendix A: Website Evaluation Rubric... 7 References... 8

3 EDID6508 Usability Report 3 Executive Summary The ease with which a viewer on a website is able to interface with and use the website is a measure of the website s usability. Usability is a very important success factor to the web page designer. It often determines whether viewers remain on the website, satisfied with what the website has to offer, or leave the website dissatisfied for not having their expectations met (Nielsen, 2012). A component of Assignment 3 required the preparation of an abridged version of a usability evaluation report after experiencing a peer s website for this EDID 6508 Developing Instructional Media course. The framework that guided the preparation of the report listed the review of content and layout, navigation, links (content), background and colour choices, fonts, graphics and images (accessibility), copyright, and spelling and grammar. A full-fledged usability website evaluation covers so much more. It includes but is not limited to the selection of a sample of users (participants) to test the website, observation, documentation and analysis of the participant users while using the website, the use of various testing instruments to carry out different types of testing (e.g. performance testing and quality assurance testing) and usually with a defined performance criteria and scoring in the mix (Usability First., 2015). The findings of the evaluation highlighted issues requiring improvement mainly in the areas of content and layout, navigation and links (content). Recommendations sought to address these issues so as to enhance the continued design, maintenance and future use of the website. Periodic usability testing is encouraged during and after the website design process to ensure that the website is and continues to operate as it should (Usability First., 2015).

4 EDID6508 Usability Report 4 Introduction After experiencing a peer s website for this EDID 6508 Developing Instructional Media course, an abridged version of an evaluation report on the website s usability was prepared. The evaluation reviewed the content and layout, navigation, links (content), background and colour choices, fonts, graphics and images (accessibility), copyright, and spelling and grammar. Each category was scored using a Likert scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. A website evaluation rubric provided the criteria for which the scores were to be assigned (See Appendix A for Website Evaluation Rubric). The results of the review was documented in report format with recommendations for input and continued maintenance of the website that hopefully will encourage repeat and satisfied users to the site. Findings Content and layout Rubric criteria: The site has a clearly stated purpose and theme, but may have one or two elements that do not seem to be related to it. Information not related to the site was observed on the pages for Assignment 2 and Assignment 3. This information related to the weebly.com theme sample selected by the peer on which to form the setting of the existing design. Inclusion in the navigational menu on the My first web page of the News leads to a newspaper website that by itself does not have material relating to the website. Rubric criteria: The Web pages have an attractive and usable layout. The use of Scribd to present tabulated information did not allow for an easy read. The information was segmented and difficult to view as a whole document and required the repeated manipulation of the cursor to facilitate reading.

5 EDID6508 Usability Report 5 Rubric criteria: It is easy to locate most of the important elements. An important page not observed is a page to allow for Contact. Observed on the My first web page was an area for contact that did not have an area for the viewers comments and or queries. Navigation Rubric criteria: Links for navigation are clearly labelled, and take the reader where expected to go, but some needed links seem to be missing. The navigational menu links are clearly labelled. Almost all go where expected to go with the exception of two navigational menu items in the body of the My first Web page. Navigational links for moving forward and backward between related pages also seem to be missing. Links (content) Rubric criteria: Most links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites. It was observed that the Collaborative Comparison Tools link to Scribd has the document as being removed from the Scribd site. Also both links referenced for the Instructional Video activity showed Error 404 messages. The remaining categories met the following criteria: Background and colour choices Colours of background, fonts, unvisited and visited links are not unpleasant, do not detract from the content, and are fairly consistent across the pages. Fonts The fonts are consistent, easy to read and point size varies for headings and text. Graphics and images (accessibility) Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, are good quality and enhance reader interest or understanding. Copyright Clear, easy-to-locate and accurate citations for almost all borrowed material. Spelling and grammar There were 4-5 errors in grammar observed in the draft of the website.

6 EDID6508 Usability Report 6 The resulting scores allotted for each category were as follows: Category Score (Out of 4) Content and layout 2.8 Navigation 2.5 Links (content) 2.8 Background, colour 3.5 Fonts 2.8 Graphics, images (accessibility) 3.0 Copyright 3.0 Spelling, grammar 2.0 Total (22.4/32 or 70%) Recommendations and Conclusion The overall experience while interfacing with the website could be described as a pleasant and fairly satisfactory one. The website s usability however could be further improved on with the following recommendations. Ensure that all unrelated information is removed from the site. Reconsider the presentation format used for tabulated information to facilitate an easier read of the information being presented. Provide more visible points for contact and to receive comments and queries from viewers that could serve to improve on the site s usability. Ensure that all navigational links go where expected to. Provide navigational links for movement forward and backward between related web pages. Ensure that links are made with credible and up-to-date sites. Review and correct grammatical errors on the website.

7 EDID6508 Usability Report 7 Appendix A: Website Evaluation Rubric CATEGORY Content & Layout Navigation Links (content) Background and colour choices Fonts Graphics & images (accessibility) Copyright Spelling & grammar The site has a well-stated clear purpose and theme that is carried out throughout the site. The Web site has an exceptionally attractive and usable layout. It is easy to locate all important elements. White space, graphic elements and/or alignment are used effectively to organize material. Links for navigation are clearly labelled, consistently placed, allow the reader to easily move from a page to related pages (forward and back) and take the reader where expected to go. All links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites Colours of background, fonts, unvisited and visited links form a pleasing palette, do not detract from the content, and are consistent across pages. The fonts are consistent, easy to read and point size varies appropriately for headings and text. Use of font styles (italic, bold, underline) is used consistently. Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, are thoughtfully cropped, are of high quality and enhance reader interest or understanding. Fair use guidelines are followed with clear, easy-to-locate and accurate citations for all borrowed material. There are no errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Web. The site has a clearly stated purpose and theme, but may have one or two elements that do not seem to be related to it. The Web pages have an attractive and usable layout. It is easy to locate all important elements. Links for navigation are clearly labelled, allow the reader to easily move from a page to related pages (forward and back) and internal links take the reader where expected to go. Almost all links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites. Colours of background, fonts, unvisited and visited links, do not detract from the content, and are consistent across pages The fonts are consistent, easy to read and point size varies appropriately for headings and text. Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, are of good quality and enhance reader interest or understanding. Fair use guidelines are followed with clear, easy-to-locate and accurate citations for almost all borrowed material. There are 1-3 errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Web. The purpose and theme of the site is somewhat muddy or vague. The Web pages have a usable layout, but may appear busy or boring. It is easy to locate most of the important elements. Links for navigation take the reader where expected to go, but some needed links seem to be missing. A user sometimes gets lost. Most links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites. Colours of background, fonts, unvisited and visited links do not detract from the content. The fonts are consistent, and point size varies appropriately for headings and text. Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, and are of good quality. Fair use guidelines are followed with clear, easy-to-locate and accurate citations for most borrowed material. There are 4-5 errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the The site lacks a purpose and theme. The Web pages are cluttered looking or confusing. It is often difficult to locate important elements. Some links do not take the reader to the sites described. A user typically feels lost. Less than ¾ of links point to high quality, up-todate, credible sites. Colours of background, fonts, unvisited and visited links make the content hard to read or otherwise distract the reader. A wide variety of fonts, styles and point sizes was used. Graphics seem randomly chosen, are of low quality, OR distract the reader. Borrowed materials are not properly documented. There are more than 5 errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Web.

8 EDID6508 Usability Report 8 References Nielsen, J. (2012). Usability 101: Introduction to Usability. Nngroup.com. Retrieved 22 April 2017, from Usability First - Methods - Usability Testing Usability First. (2015). Usabilityfirst.com. Retrieved 24 April 2017, from Usability Methods Usability First. (2015). Usabilityfirst.com. Retrieved 24 April 2017, from