Desk Crit #4: HueiHsien

Hi HueiHsien,
I hope you enjoyed your weekend. I've attached my desk crit for your project. For the most part, my critique addresses some usability issues. Take a look, I can clarify any points you have questions about. I think you've done a really good job with this!

Cheers,
Emily

Designer: HueiHsien Liu
Project: Epidemics and Pandemics
Project URL: http://lhh0418.myweb.uga.edu/6200project/direction.htm
Reviewer: Emily Pitts
Review date: 4/23/07

Interface:

• Subheading needs "How does" to make it a question, otherwise, no question mark.
• Page numbers would be helpful, within each major section. Maybe between the Back and Next buttons, as "page 1 of 5" or "1/5". This helps to keep an idea of where I am in the program. Alternatively, you could list the page numbers between the Back and Next buttons, and make them links to those pages... that would make all of your pages easy to access.
• At the end of each session, could you include directions to proceed to the next Session?
• Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation (you may want someone to go through this part with you, it isn’t that bad – just little things on various pages)
• It seems like a number of the figures include information or terms that aren't included in the text, at least not in the text on the page the image is on. Also, can any of these be made bigger?
• Could you name the buttons to include the subject title? For instance, instead of "Session I", write "I: Antigenic drift". This gives a constant outline of the program and reminds me what is ahead when I read (for example, at the end of the introduction you mention antigenic drift and shift, a description on the session buttons would indicate that I'll learn about this if I continue).
• Within your sessions, I think it would be more effective to place the subsections underneath the session button in the left menu. When I see these at the top of the page, I think that it will take me away and I'm not sure what will happen (I can't see the Next button unless I scroll). It also looks like I can just click whichever subsection instead of clicking next after I read "What is it?" -- this isn't right, because there are more pages in this subheading (if this is just to provide a place to skip ahead, linked page numbers would do the same trick, without diverting the first-timer's attention!)
• Can the text be broken up a bit more? Bulleting select items within the text or numbering steps will make information stand out on the page. If you had more time – this would be a great help from your SME.

Flash interactions

• The many different buttons on the page can be distracting and confusing. If you require that the user view all of an animation or quiz before going to the next page, your last Flash frame could include the next button, to the next HTML page – by doing this, you could take off the extra next button on the pages with Flash interactions.
• Think about using different navigational language between the flash interactions and the lesson interface. For instance, instead of saying "back" in a flash quiz, you might say "try again" on the button. That way, the buttons will not conflict.
• Can you make the text darker in the Flash movies? The gray text doesn't stand out well and can be hard to read on some pages.
• Your animations look good! The only odd thing is in the Mutation of genome movie, after you zoom in to the cell, it skips to a pink box. Do you need help with this?

Content

Help
I would include this information on a single help page. If someone needs help while they are in a lesson, they will only have one page to view. (I didn’t understand where I would go with the “next” button; I thought it might take me to the introduction).

Introduction

• Include "Fig." with letters in parenthesis. Figure C seems out of place – are glycoproteins explained in the second paragraph?
• Intro p.2 -- how does "Surface of Virus" fit with content?

Session I

• add footer links (help, site map, etc.) on "What is it"
• What is "facilitating information" on the incorrect feedback? Do you mean "Hint:" or "Helpful tip:"

Session III

• The left menu has different spacing from the other pages.
• p. 2 - the image doesn't enlarge
• Exercise 2: You may want to be clearer about the two symbols above the radio buttons. I recommend just "T" and "F". (this applies to any of your true/false quizzes)

Quiz:

• #13 -- "Visit your grandparents" is pretty funny. I like that.
• #15 -- This isn't a question.
• What happens at the end? I was hoping to get a score. I think I got 4 right. :(

Ending the program
It would be helpful to have a conclusion. The program just ends abruptly after the 15th question. The conclusion could be a really short outline of what was learned or a short summary and link to the site map to review any particular section.