581 - Usability Lab Perspectives; Sliders Along a Continuum
June 12, 2009 Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - June 12, 2009.
#581 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
54,749 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Host - Learning 2009 - Nov 8-11 - Orlando, Florida
1. Usability Labs Perspectives.
2. Trainer’s Tip: Sliders Along a Continuum.
1. Usability Labs Perspectives: We are having a great deal of fun doing a Usability Study with one of our Learning CONSORTIUM members, a Fortune 50 company. Next week, they will be taking a “deep dive” look at one of their new e-Learning modules, developed by a third party company. Our colleagues are interested in taking a fresh look at how workers in their organization are learning, navigating and reacting to this required safety course. I’m serving as a coach to them as this is their first Usability Study. I thought that you might be interested in the process. It’s easy to replicate in your own setting:
* First, we generated a list of behaviors that we wanted to observe at each section of the e-Learning module. (eg. Does the learner naturally know to click on the icons? Does the learner access the Help function during the module?)
* We crafted these questions into an observation check list, including navigation, mouse movements, time on each task and degree of exploration. There is also a series of verbal questions that will be asked of the learner before, during and after the module.
* We set up a cubicle with 3 cameras to look at the learner’s face, hands and body language - plus a capture of all screen activities - linked with a time code and an audio capture.
* In real time, the team will watch (from a remote room) as each of 6 learners takes the module. They will be observing and coding the learners in real time. In addition, the team has a speaker and microphone to ask a few “interruption” questions (eg. “What is the task that you are being asked to do on this screen?”)
* At the end of the module, each learner is debriefed in depth, based on their actions during the course and a set of reflective questions. (eg. How challenged did you feel by the e-Learning?)
It is quite simple to set up a Usability Lab space in your own office. Every time I am involved in one of these Studies, I wonder why they are not used more widely as part of the design and development process. As designers watch real users navigate the course, it is fascinating to watch their own new perspectives on how to improve the design.
2. Trainer’s Tip - Sliders Along a Continuum: Recently, I have been using a Slider along a Continuum as part of my teaching style. For example, if the content is Delegation Modes, I will use a large white board and place the extremes of a Continuum several feet apart (eg. Direct Delegation … Tacit Delegation). I have a big magnet arrow that can be moved along the Continuum. I’ll ask learners to come up to the board and move the slider, based on their reaction to a scenario or simulation. It is interesting to see how a class adopts the Continuum as a physical and mental model. It becomes a great way to explore the range of views on a topic.
Elliott Masie
Host, Learning 2009 - Nov 8 to 11 - Orlando, FL
Contact: emasie@masie.com
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