Usability Test - Weebly317portfolio.weebly.com/.../3/3/52331869/usability_test.pdf · 2018-08-31 · Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping. I was able to perform

Usability Test University of Idaho Vandal Web

By Chad Petersen

Introduction

This white paper reports the usability test I conducted for the University of Idaho’s Vandal Web

website. Vandal Web is where University of Idaho’s registration and related activities are

accomplished. This usabilty test targets incoming University of Idaho students who have

financial aid, have been admitted, have a username and password, and have all registration

holds lifted. It is assumed that all users have basic knowledge of internet and website

navigation.

Methods This usability test was conducted on April 17, 2015 at my home-office in Athol, Idaho, in a quiet

environment, free of distractions. To ensure an experience similar to the everyday college

student, a Hewlett Packard PC laptop with Windows 7 operating system and Google Chrome

web browser was used for testing. A fast, reliable internet connection was used. Seven tasks

were tested to determine the usability of Vandal Web.

Tasks:

1. Logging in to the Vandal Web with a username and password. 2. Checking registration status before registering. 3. Searching for classes. 4. Registering for classes. 5. Viewing class schedule for registered classes. 6. Ordering texts for registered classes. 7. Dropping registered classes.

A Likert Scale (see Fig. 1) was used for scoring and interpreting data based on four criteria.

Figure 1

Criteria:

1. I was able to perform the task without using help documentation.

2. Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping.

3. I was able to accomplish the task in a reasonable amount of time.

4. The task yielded expected results.

Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree

Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1

Final results will be compiled based on 20 points for each of the seven tasks tested, for a total

of 140 points.

140-136 points = Amazing usability interface

135-112 points = Very good usability interface

111-84 points = Good usability interface

83-56 points = Subpar usability interface

<56 points = Non-usable usability interface

Results: Login To start the usability test, I began with logging in to Vandal Web. Identifying where to input my

login information required no help documentation. However, help documentation was

available in bold print directly below the input bars (see Fig. 2). Once the login information was

uploaded, the Vandal Web Main Menu opened as expected (see Fig. 3).

Figure 2

The Login process was completed in a reasonable amount of time, yielded expected results,

without use of help documentation, and was enhanced by mapping layout.

The task yielded expected results.


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1

I was able to accomplish the task in a reasonable amount of time.

Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping.

I was able to perform the task without using help documentation.

Results: Checking Registration Status To test the usability Vandal Web for checking registration status, I chose the Student

Information/Registration tab from the Main Menu (see Fig. 3), and the first option available was

the Check Registration Status tab (see Fig. 4).

Figure 3


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1

Figure 4

I chose the Check Registration Status tab and was directed to the Check Registration Status

page, where the fonts, colors, and symbols ensured proper interpretation of data (see Fig. 5).

Figure 5

The Check Registration Status process was completed in a reasonable amount of time, yielded

expected results, without use of help documentation, and was enhanced by mapping layout.




Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1



Results: Searching for Classes To test the usability of Vandal Web for searching for classes, I pressed the Student

Information/Registration tab to return to the Registration Menu (See Fig. 4). I chose the Class

Search tab and was directed to the Vandal Web Class Search Menu where I was given term

selection options (see Fig. 6).

Figure 6

Having submitted my term selection, I was directed to a Subject Selection Menu. I chose a

course and pressed the Course Search icon (see Fig. 7).


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1

Figure 7

I was directed to a Course Selection page (see Fig. 8), completing this section of the usability

test.

Figure 8

The Class Search process took a reasonable amount of time to accomplish, without use of help

documentation, yielded expected results, and was enhanced by mapping layout.




Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1



Results: Registering for Classes

To test the usability of Vandal Web for registering for classes, I chose a course and selected the

View Sections icon from the Course Selections page (see Fig. 8) and was directed to the

Selections Found Page (see Fig. 9). Here I was given the options to register, add courses to a list

for later registration, or do a new search.

Figure 9

To register, I checked the select box and pressed the Register icon (see Fig. 9). I

was directed to a Registration Status page showing I was registered for the chosen class (see

Fig. 10).

Figure 10


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1

Usability of Vandal Web to register for classes exceeded expectations. Completing the

registration process took a reasonable amount of time, without use of help documentation,

yielded expected results, and was enhanced by mapping layout.





Results: Dropping Classes I tested the usability of the Vandal Web to drop classes by following the same steps I used to

register (note, there are other options that weren’t tested). Once on the Status Page (see Fig.

10), I chose Drop from the action icon (see Fig. 11), removing myself from the class.

Figure 11


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1

The process of dropping a class on Vandal Web exceeded expectations. Completing the process

took a reasonable amount of time, without use of help documentation, yielded expected

results, and was enhanced by mapping layout.





Results: Ordering Texts To test the usability of ordering texts through Vandal Web, I started by registering for courses.

Once registered, choosing Textbook Express from the Student Information/Registration Menu

(see Fig. 4) opened the Term Menu page.


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1

Figure 12

I selected a term and pressed Submit (see Fig. 12), linking Vandal Web to the Vandal Store

website, where texts needed for registered courses were automatically displayed with a variety

of purchaseing options (see Fig.13). Continued testing was not done due to not falling within

the parameters of Vandal Web.

Figure 13

Usability of the Ordering Texts feature available on Vandal Web exceeded expectations. The

ordering texts process was completed in a reasonable amount of time, yielded expected results,

without use of help documentation, and was enhanced by mapping layout.



Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1




Results: Viewing Class Schedule To test the usability of Vandal Web to view a schedule for registered classes, I pressed the

Schedule – Week at a Glance icon found on the Student Information/Registration Menu page

(see Fig. 4). The Week at a Glance Menu page opened showing the current week’s classes and

offered search options for other dates (see Fig. 14).

Figure 14

The Viewing Class Schedule process was completed in a reasonable amount of time, yielded

expected results, without use of help documentation, and was enhanced by mapping layout.


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1





Results: Overall Usability test results for Vandal Web met or exceeded expectations. Vandal Web received a

score of 118 = Very good usability interface, after being subjected to my usability test criteria.

All tasks were accomplished in a reasonable amount of time, without use of help

documentation, while yielding expected results, and were enhanced by mapping layout.

Reccomendations If you are a new student ready for classes at the University of Idaho, don’t hesitate to use the

tools availble on Vandal Web. The Vandal Web is well designed with a simple, effective, user-

friendly interface. Tasks can be accomplished in a matter of moments with expected results.

Accessability to every criteria tested was unhindered due to thoughtful menu mapping and

navigation layout. Vandal Web met or exceeded all expectations when subjected to my

usability testing criteria, and comes highly reccommended as a resource for University of Idaho

registration and related activities.


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1


Strongly Disagree

5 4 3 2 1

Documents

Usability Test - Weebly317portfolio.weebly.com/.../3/3/52331869/usability_test.pdf · 2018-08-31 · Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping. I was able to perform