[ATTW-L] usability online?

Thu Sep 24 12:33:27 UTC 2020

Miles-

I've been struggling with teaching the Usability Testing course online, as well. I taught it last spring when we moved online. Students in my course use the Krug and Barnum text and I also focus a lot on accessibility/ADA/disability studies.

We went online during the formal testing project, right as they were conducting run-throughs and about to conduct the usability tests. I did a quick run-down on how to test online and told the class that because they have already recruited their participants, they could test them online if they want. They had already downloaded a trial version of Camtasia so they could record the test, or I let them use any other app/program (e.g. Google Meet) they felt comfortable with.

For the informal tests the students will conduct in the online Usability Testing this spring, I'll let the students test each other, as long as the websites they choose fit (which is almost a guarantee). Our university has licenses for WebEx and Zoom--so students are familiar with them and both allow sharing and recording.

For the formal test, students will recruit as they did in the past--through other classes, organizations they are a part of, family friends, etc.

The only problem I've run into is how to include/recruit those with accessibility needs to represent the audiences of the websites. I've found nothing in the lit. that discusses how to do this (if you know of any, please let me know). How do you recruit for participants with accessibility needs ("I'm writing to recruit those who have accessibility needs or disabilities according to the legal definition as participants.... If you have a physical, visual, cognitive....") or approach someone you think has an accessibility need ("Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, but it looks like you have an artificial leg. Do you mind....") Talk about awkward and rude.

Fortunately, a colleague and close friend of mine has colorblindness, some hearing issues, and because of MS he has difficulty using the mouse and trackpad. I spoke with him and asked if he would be willing to serve as a participant for the students to use for usability testing. It's one thing to test for accessibility; it's another thing to have someone responding to the researcher about issues in real-time. After the testings, I'm also going to have a synchronous class so he can speak with the students and explain his experiences and issues he's had navigating websites. Also, students will be able to ask him questions.

I know this is not an opportunity available in a usability testing course every time; however, maybe you know someone you are comfortable enough with/close enough with to ask if he/she would do the same or at least share his/her experiences.

Best of luck and if you discover solutions, I'd appreciate the pass-along--

Elizabeth

________________________________
Elizabeth R. Pass, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School of Writing, Rhetoric & Technical Communication
James Madison University
54 Bluestone Drive
MSC 2103, Harrison Hall 2258
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
540.568.8139
passer at jmu.edu
sites.jmu.edu/HelpfulResources/
________________________________
From: ATTW-L <attw-l-bounces at attw.org> on behalf of Miles Kimball <miles.kimball at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2020 7:35:07 AM
To: attw-l at attw.org
Subject: [ATTW-L] usability online?

Anyone care to share approaches to teaching usability testing in an online class? Traditional usability testing  is difficult to do fully online without asking the test subjects to bear a lot of the load (setting up cameras and so on). In the past, with f2f classes I've tried to keep the focus on paper prototype testing, but even that seems unworkable online.

Any ideas or thoughts?

Thanks!

Miles

--
Miles Kimball, PhD
Professor, Department of Communication and Media
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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