Ed Tech Short Course

Exercise: testing usability

Test your design both before implementing and during implementation

Choose and recruit subjects that match your intended audience

Have them try out your site in a "real" context, without handholding

Watch especially for people who have trouble with:

• content problems -- can your subjects figure out your message?
• presentation problems -- do they like what they see?
• differences between site and user vocabulary
• navigation (links not followed, links followed incorrectly, etc.)

Keep a record of what your subjects do. Ask them (afterwards!) what they thought of the design, and keep a record of that too.

Exercise: find a partner in the class, and ask your partner to visit your home page. Record behavior and reactions. Then discuss possible changes with him/her.

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