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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
METHODOLOGY TEST GOALS AND OBJECTIVES METRICS PARTICIPANTS TASKS/SCENARIOS |
FINDINGS/TEST RESULTS
SUS RESULTS PRC RESULTS RECOMMENDATIONS MOCK-UP |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FFC000
Our team of usability researchers were hired by Kennesaw State University to test the Owl Express online class registration process and to find ways of improving the user experience. Our experience with the test went smoothly, though we did find issues with the user experience and just the general usability of Owl Express. We had four different participants test the Owl Express site. The scenario was that they were new to KSU and they needed to register for classes and when they were finished view their class schedule.
The participants were videotaped from two different angles along with screen capture software. We made sure to get all proper consent forms along with recorded verbal confirmation.
Issues
How the Site Can Be Improved
Participant recruitment for our study was based on people we already know. Each of our four participants filled out a general participation form and video consent form, and was guided through the study by our moderator.
The usability test was performed in one sitting at a private residence. The website was tested on a MacBook computer, using one of our team member’s personal Owl Express accounts. Participants were recorded with two cameras, screen capture, and a microphone to capture their reactions. One camera was facing the participant, while the other recorded a side view.
TEST GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Our team of usability researchers were hired by Kennesaw State University to test the Owl Express online class registration process and to find ways of improving the user experience. Our experience with the test went smoothly, though we did find issues with the user experience and just the general usability of Owl Express. We had four different participants test the Owl Express site. The scenario was that they were new to KSU and they needed to register for classes and when they were finished view their class schedule.
The participants were videotaped from two different angles along with screen capture software. We made sure to get all proper consent forms along with recorded verbal confirmation.
Issues
- Instructions - There are no instructions on the site for how to sign up for classes.
- Cluttered – Registration pages are cluttered and hard to understand.
- Layout - The class search button and the register button are very small and hard to find.
- Ease of Use - There is too much scrolling on the class search pages, which makes it difficult to register for classes.
- Accessibility - After you have registered for classes it is difficult to find the class schedule to the classes you just registered for.
How the Site Can Be Improved
- Layout - Change the location of the search buttons and make them larger and more visible with color. Possibly have the register button follow the user on the class search page.
- On the registration page add step by step instructions on how to use add drop to register for classes.
- On the registration page have a large visible location where the student can view their class schedule.
Participant recruitment for our study was based on people we already know. Each of our four participants filled out a general participation form and video consent form, and was guided through the study by our moderator.
The usability test was performed in one sitting at a private residence. The website was tested on a MacBook computer, using one of our team member’s personal Owl Express accounts. Participants were recorded with two cameras, screen capture, and a microphone to capture their reactions. One camera was facing the participant, while the other recorded a side view.
- Think-Aloud: Participants were encouraged to actively share their thought process and reactions when completing each task. This lets us see in detail how they interact with the interface in real time, as well as help us pinpoint common patterns.
- SUS: After completing the tasks, each participant filled out a System Usability Scale sheet, which is a 10 item Likert-scale questionnaire that assesses usability based on a score from 0-100.
- Product Reaction Cards (PRC): Participants also selected five terms from a list of product reaction words that best described their experience with the website. Each sheet of terms was randomized.
TEST GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
- We wanted to discover what could be improved about the site navigation/registration area of Owl Express.
- To study how users navigate the website and find the desired page and courses they need to complete the task.
- To study if users could successfully register for classes and view their schedule.