MONDAY
* All previous posts (Week 1-Week 5) were posted on https://art343teambaseball.wordpress.com/
In Class
Project 1: Final Critique
During the final critique we evaluated each group's project as if we have never seen their poster before. Listed below are some of the comments we received on the Baseball poster.
Lecture Notes
Today in class we started going over different user testing scenarios and how we could possibly use them into our next project. Some of the testing tactics we discussed were guerrilla testing, concept testing, moderated usability testing and remote unmoderated testing.
Reading
Chapter 6: Research Methods
Chapter 6 reviewed the different types of research methods that can be completed for user testing. Some of the research methods are learning plan, guerilla user research, proto-personas, heuristic markup, comparative assessment, and content patterns. Learning plan is centered around the user mindset and it is a way to get the user by face-to-face communication, server log datas and web intercept surveys. Guerilla User Research understands how the user behaves by performing goals by asking open ended questions to see the thought process of the target uses. Proto-Personas are larger in concept than a persona that thinks empathetically about consumers goals, needs and challenges. It is an unclear picture of the target audience that focuses on the needs, behaviors, motivations, quotes and over of the user. Heuristic Markup is the beginning to the end of the experience. This is an overview evaluation of the recording process by recording the emotions of the user. Comparative assessment is the envision and expectations for new user experience clear areas, content, design, features, functionality, flow, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. In the final outcome it will summarize the findings or guidelines.
In an overview if you can't do all of these different types of research, you should at least try using the Guerilla User Research as a way to improve the product. If nothing else, reach out to the users and find out what matters most to them.
Project 2: User Testing
For the next project we will test the Millersville University Admissions webpage through user testing. We will meet with potential Millersville University Students during the campus tours. The potential students are the targeted audience because they would be ones using this webpage. We would observe the user by going through the process of selecting certain links and pages on the website. We can observe them by video, audio or observing and taking notes. We are suppose to notice their thought process but can't advise or help them in anyway. At the end of the project we will write a 1000 word paper on our observation, experience, what the results and outcomes were. And the second portion to the project is pretty open ended and could be a visual report, case study, interactive presentation, etc. to re-irritate what we wrote in our paper. Our goal is to not solve the problems but observe what problems were brought up.
Questions to be ask: (Question Sequence)
Admissions Website Questions
Goal of these questions is to see if the user gets stuck at a certain page and see if the user can find ways of progressing to the next questions.
In one of the links off sensible.com, it talked about usability testing and what the observer may say to the user prior to the testing, during the test and post test. For example if the user makes a discussion the observer may ask why the user made the discussion they did? or what were you thinking about while going through those steps? It's important to get a reaction from the user or you won't know what they were thinking. Even simple questions like what do you expect to happen here? What are you trying to accomplish? Do what you would normally do?
Adjusting the recording consent form:
Recording consent form
Thank you for participating in our usability research.
We will be recording and observing your session to allow the Millersville University, Interactive and Graphic Design students in the Experience Design class to observe your session and benefit from your comments.
Please read the statement below and sign where indicated
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I understand that my usability test session will be recorded.
I grant the Interactive and Graphic Design student’s permission to use this recording for internal use only, for the purpose of improving the designs being tested.
By signing below I certify that I have read this release and fully understand the contents, meaning and impact of said release.
Signature: _______________________________
Print your name: __________________________
Date: __________________
Usability Test Script
- Overall type is too small.
- The running path seems to end abruptly, we should some how connect this path back to the batter. (We explained that the running path is an external part of the game and a runner could be on one base during several batters and wouldn't have a way of getting back to the batter because once your on base you don't bat again.)
- Lines in the key need to match the lines in the flowchart.
- Key and Field elements could be smaller
- Need to add more icons and symbols throughout the flowchart instead of referencing back and forth to the field layout.
- Some students were confused about the specific sequence and the continuous sequence lines.
- We should have worded 1st bat, 2nd bat, etc. differently, but they didn't have a suggestion as to what it should be changed to.
- Thought our poster was layout out very well because baseball is such a technical sport.
Lecture Notes
Today in class we started going over different user testing scenarios and how we could possibly use them into our next project. Some of the testing tactics we discussed were guerrilla testing, concept testing, moderated usability testing and remote unmoderated testing.
Reading
Chapter 6: Research Methods
Chapter 6 reviewed the different types of research methods that can be completed for user testing. Some of the research methods are learning plan, guerilla user research, proto-personas, heuristic markup, comparative assessment, and content patterns. Learning plan is centered around the user mindset and it is a way to get the user by face-to-face communication, server log datas and web intercept surveys. Guerilla User Research understands how the user behaves by performing goals by asking open ended questions to see the thought process of the target uses. Proto-Personas are larger in concept than a persona that thinks empathetically about consumers goals, needs and challenges. It is an unclear picture of the target audience that focuses on the needs, behaviors, motivations, quotes and over of the user. Heuristic Markup is the beginning to the end of the experience. This is an overview evaluation of the recording process by recording the emotions of the user. Comparative assessment is the envision and expectations for new user experience clear areas, content, design, features, functionality, flow, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. In the final outcome it will summarize the findings or guidelines.
In an overview if you can't do all of these different types of research, you should at least try using the Guerilla User Research as a way to improve the product. If nothing else, reach out to the users and find out what matters most to them.
Project 2: User Testing
For the next project we will test the Millersville University Admissions webpage through user testing. We will meet with potential Millersville University Students during the campus tours. The potential students are the targeted audience because they would be ones using this webpage. We would observe the user by going through the process of selecting certain links and pages on the website. We can observe them by video, audio or observing and taking notes. We are suppose to notice their thought process but can't advise or help them in anyway. At the end of the project we will write a 1000 word paper on our observation, experience, what the results and outcomes were. And the second portion to the project is pretty open ended and could be a visual report, case study, interactive presentation, etc. to re-irritate what we wrote in our paper. Our goal is to not solve the problems but observe what problems were brought up.
Questions to be ask: (Question Sequence)
Admissions Website Questions
Samantha Magaard
Goal of these questions is to see if the user gets stuck at a certain page and see if the user can find ways of progressing to the next questions.
- Can you find the “fast facts” page for Millersville?
- Take a virtual tour.
- Can you find information on how much it costs to attend Millersville University
- Find information on the major that you are interested in applying for?
- Can you find information about Millersville regarding national/state wide rankings?
- Find information on how to apply as an international student?
- If you were an out-of-state student how would you find information regarding special out-of-state offerings?
- Find at least two facts about a faculty member within the academic program you’re interested in?
- Let’s say you got admitted – find information about paying your confirmation deposit and the “next steps in enrolling?”
- Find information about living on-campus?
In one of the links off sensible.com, it talked about usability testing and what the observer may say to the user prior to the testing, during the test and post test. For example if the user makes a discussion the observer may ask why the user made the discussion they did? or what were you thinking about while going through those steps? It's important to get a reaction from the user or you won't know what they were thinking. Even simple questions like what do you expect to happen here? What are you trying to accomplish? Do what you would normally do?
Adjusting the recording consent form:
Recording consent form
Thank you for participating in our usability research.
We will be recording and observing your session to allow the Millersville University, Interactive and Graphic Design students in the Experience Design class to observe your session and benefit from your comments.
Please read the statement below and sign where indicated
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I understand that my usability test session will be recorded.
I grant the Interactive and Graphic Design student’s permission to use this recording for internal use only, for the purpose of improving the designs being tested.
By signing below I certify that I have read this release and fully understand the contents, meaning and impact of said release.
Signature: _______________________________
Print your name: __________________________
Date: __________________
Usability Test Script
For the usability test script I changed a few wording such as my name, how the information is going to be used, how long it will take, who this usability testing is helping and the non-disclosure statement. By rewriting this script I was able to practice, how I would approach and explain the procedure of the project.
