-We're designing a user
interface for a website that will contain both course information and
student comments on and ratings of the courses. We've created a paper
prototype of this system, and we'd like you to sit down with us and
run through three tasks using the system. We expect this to take about
an hour.
- It will work like
this-we'll show you the screens as we go through. We'll give you time
to look at the screen and tell us what you think is going on and what
you think you want to do next. If you want to click on something, just
point to it and let us know that you want to click on it. If you want
to enter text, let us know and we'll give you a piece of paper to write
on the text you want to enter. As you move through the system and click
on things and enter text, the computer (point to computer, who waves
her hand) will react to what you've done. That might take a little time
sometimes, so wait until the computer says ready to continue.
-As we go through
this, please "think aloud" for us-let us know what you're looking at
and why, if you're confused by anything, and so on.
-Remember, we are
testing the interface, not you-if you have trouble with the system or
don't understand something, that's good-it shows us a problem with the
design that we can fix!
-Do you have any
questions so far?
- Before we begin,
we need for you to read this document and sign it, letting us know that
you understand what we're going to be doing and are ok with it.
-Ok, now I'm going
to give you a little story about who you are and what you're going to
be doing for the purposes of this first task.
(Read task narrative)
-Do you have any
questions? Let's begin-here's the screen as you first see it: