[ATTW-L] usability online?

[Stephen Bernhardt]

Could students evaluate usability of the tools they are using, like Zoom,
Skype, Hangouts, or filesharing, concurrent authoring, or revision markup
tools in Adobe, a CMS, or other software systems?

Steve Bernhardt
Santa Fe, NM


On Thu, Sep 24, 2020 at 8:35 AM Pass, Elizabeth Ruth - passer <
PASSER at jmu.edu> wrote:

> 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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