1. Webmasters Roundtable Tools, Standards & Usability Darlene Fichter Greg Notess Frank Cervone University of Saskatchewan Library Montana State University Northwestern University

2. Usability testing ► Preference testing ► Cognitive Walkthrough ► Forms and workflow

3. Cognitive walkthrough ► Performed by development team ► Collective walkthrough of site ► Assessment of whether the user has the information to confidently make the next right action

4. At each step ask 1. Will the users understand what is presented? 2. Is the next action/choice visible to them? 3. Will they know that the choice is correct? 4. If they make the choice, will they understand the response?

5. What’s required ► Detailed description of the system ► Prototype –Location of items on the screen and wording should be filled in ► Representative tasks –Complete list of steps that need to be taken to complete the task ► Indication of the user type and experience

6. Document the problems A recorder should note problems on the detailed task sheet: –By step in the task –Give a description of the problem –Note the severity

7. Where to put help on Web forms? ► Excellent studies ► One looks at the registration form for the WinWriter’s conference ► Do people use help and where is it best placed?

8. What They Tested 1.Page Level - directions in a left hand column 2.Field Level - [Help] after each field with the directions popping up in a window or side frame 3.Field Level - field name was a hyperlink 4.Embedded – domain level at the top and included by field

9. What They Learned ► The report of the study is at http://www.winwriters.com/usability_test_analysis.htm ► Links to reports & studies http://library.usask.ca/~fichter/

10. Preference testing ► Preference or “cookie” testing –My Account –My Library –Library Account –Login –Library Card