Web Page Usability Exercise

• Exercise:

• The Faculty Technology Center helps faculty use computer technology in their classes. Go to the SIUE home page, find out what hours the Center is open.

Slide Comments:

If more than one computer is available, divide the student into groups of 3 or 4. One student will do the first exercise while the others in the group observe the student doing the exercise, and take notes on their observations. Students will discuss within their groups their observations, making note of ways the observations were similar and ways they differed. Based on their observations, they will critique the ease of use of the website. The student who did the exercise will not participate in the discussion of the website until the others have finished critiquing the site based on their observations.

A different student in each group will do the second exercise, with the remaining students observing and taking notes. Students will discuss their observations, making notes of ways the observations were similar and ways they differed. This time, the student doing the exercise will talk aloud and describe actions, questions as he/she does the exercise. The student will join the other students in the group in discussing and critiquing the website.

If only one computer is available, two different students will do the exercises for the entire class to observe. Basic instructions would remain the same, except critiques would be done in small groups. In the second exercise, the student who did the exercise would be available to answer questions from members of each of the groups.