Usability 2004 J T Burns1 Usability & Usability Engineering.
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Usability Test University of Idaho Vandal Web
By Chad Petersen
Introduction
This white paper reports the usability test I conducted for the University of Idaho’s Vandal Web
website. Vandal Web is where University of Idaho’s registration and related activities are
accomplished. This usabilty test targets incoming University of Idaho students who have
financial aid, have been admitted, have a username and password, and have all registration
holds lifted. It is assumed that all users have basic knowledge of internet and website
navigation.
Methods This usability test was conducted on April 17, 2015 at my home-office in Athol, Idaho, in a quiet
environment, free of distractions. To ensure an experience similar to the everyday college
student, a Hewlett Packard PC laptop with Windows 7 operating system and Google Chrome
web browser was used for testing. A fast, reliable internet connection was used. Seven tasks
were tested to determine the usability of Vandal Web.
Tasks:
1. Logging in to the Vandal Web with a username and password. 2. Checking registration status before registering. 3. Searching for classes. 4. Registering for classes. 5. Viewing class schedule for registered classes. 6. Ordering texts for registered classes. 7. Dropping registered classes.
A Likert Scale (see Fig. 1) was used for scoring and interpreting data based on four criteria.
Figure 1
Criteria:
1. I was able to perform the task without using help documentation.
2. Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping.
3. I was able to accomplish the task in a reasonable amount of time.
4. The task yielded expected results.
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Final results will be compiled based on 20 points for each of the seven tasks tested, for a total
of 140 points.
140-136 points = Amazing usability interface
135-112 points = Very good usability interface
111-84 points = Good usability interface
83-56 points = Subpar usability interface
<56 points = Non-usable usability interface
Results: Login To start the usability test, I began with logging in to Vandal Web. Identifying where to input my
login information required no help documentation. However, help documentation was
available in bold print directly below the input bars (see Fig. 2). Once the login information was
uploaded, the Vandal Web Main Menu opened as expected (see Fig. 3).
Figure 2
The Login process was completed in a reasonable amount of time, yielded expected results,
without use of help documentation, and was enhanced by mapping layout.
The task yielded expected results.
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
I was able to accomplish the task in a reasonable amount of time.
Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping.
I was able to perform the task without using help documentation.
Results: Checking Registration Status To test the usability Vandal Web for checking registration status, I chose the Student
Information/Registration tab from the Main Menu (see Fig. 3), and the first option available was
the Check Registration Status tab (see Fig. 4).
Figure 3
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
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Strongly Disagree
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Figure 4
I chose the Check Registration Status tab and was directed to the Check Registration Status
page, where the fonts, colors, and symbols ensured proper interpretation of data (see Fig. 5).
Figure 5
The Check Registration Status process was completed in a reasonable amount of time, yielded
expected results, without use of help documentation, and was enhanced by mapping layout.
The task yielded expected results.
I was able to accomplish the task in a reasonable amount of time.
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping.
I was able to perform the task without using help documentation.
Results: Searching for Classes To test the usability of Vandal Web for searching for classes, I pressed the Student
Information/Registration tab to return to the Registration Menu (See Fig. 4). I chose the Class
Search tab and was directed to the Vandal Web Class Search Menu where I was given term
selection options (see Fig. 6).
Figure 6
Having submitted my term selection, I was directed to a Subject Selection Menu. I chose a
course and pressed the Course Search icon (see Fig. 7).
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Figure 7
I was directed to a Course Selection page (see Fig. 8), completing this section of the usability
test.
Figure 8
The Class Search process took a reasonable amount of time to accomplish, without use of help
documentation, yielded expected results, and was enhanced by mapping layout.
The task yielded expected results.
I was able to accomplish the task in a reasonable amount of time.
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping.
I was able to perform the task without using help documentation.
Results: Registering for Classes
To test the usability of Vandal Web for registering for classes, I chose a course and selected the
View Sections icon from the Course Selections page (see Fig. 8) and was directed to the
Selections Found Page (see Fig. 9). Here I was given the options to register, add courses to a list
for later registration, or do a new search.
Figure 9
To register, I checked the select box and pressed the Register icon (see Fig. 9). I
was directed to a Registration Status page showing I was registered for the chosen class (see
Fig. 10).
Figure 10
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Usability of Vandal Web to register for classes exceeded expectations. Completing the
registration process took a reasonable amount of time, without use of help documentation,
yielded expected results, and was enhanced by mapping layout.
The task yielded expected results.
I was able to accomplish the task in a reasonable amount of time.
Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping.
I was able to perform the task without using help documentation.
Results: Dropping Classes I tested the usability of the Vandal Web to drop classes by following the same steps I used to
register (note, there are other options that weren’t tested). Once on the Status Page (see Fig.
10), I chose Drop from the action icon (see Fig. 11), removing myself from the class.
Figure 11
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
The process of dropping a class on Vandal Web exceeded expectations. Completing the process
took a reasonable amount of time, without use of help documentation, yielded expected
results, and was enhanced by mapping layout.
The task yielded expected results.
I was able to accomplish the task in a reasonable amount of time.
Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping.
I was able to perform the task without using help documentation.
Results: Ordering Texts To test the usability of ordering texts through Vandal Web, I started by registering for courses.
Once registered, choosing Textbook Express from the Student Information/Registration Menu
(see Fig. 4) opened the Term Menu page.
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
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5 4 3 2 1
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Figure 12
I selected a term and pressed Submit (see Fig. 12), linking Vandal Web to the Vandal Store
website, where texts needed for registered courses were automatically displayed with a variety
of purchaseing options (see Fig.13). Continued testing was not done due to not falling within
the parameters of Vandal Web.
Figure 13
Usability of the Ordering Texts feature available on Vandal Web exceeded expectations. The
ordering texts process was completed in a reasonable amount of time, yielded expected results,
without use of help documentation, and was enhanced by mapping layout.
The task yielded expected results.
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
I was able to accomplish the task in a reasonable amount of time.
Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping.
I was able to perform the task without using help documentation.
Results: Viewing Class Schedule To test the usability of Vandal Web to view a schedule for registered classes, I pressed the
Schedule – Week at a Glance icon found on the Student Information/Registration Menu page
(see Fig. 4). The Week at a Glance Menu page opened showing the current week’s classes and
offered search options for other dates (see Fig. 14).
Figure 14
The Viewing Class Schedule process was completed in a reasonable amount of time, yielded
expected results, without use of help documentation, and was enhanced by mapping layout.
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
5 4 3 2 1
The task yielded expected results.
I was able to accomplish the task in a reasonable amount of time.
Usability was enhanced due to proper menu layout and mapping.
I was able to perform the task without using help documentation.
Results: Overall Usability test results for Vandal Web met or exceeded expectations. Vandal Web received a
score of 118 = Very good usability interface, after being subjected to my usability test criteria.
All tasks were accomplished in a reasonable amount of time, without use of help
documentation, while yielding expected results, and were enhanced by mapping layout.
Reccomendations If you are a new student ready for classes at the University of Idaho, don’t hesitate to use the
tools availble on Vandal Web. The Vandal Web is well designed with a simple, effective, user-
friendly interface. Tasks can be accomplished in a matter of moments with expected results.
Accessability to every criteria tested was unhindered due to thoughtful menu mapping and
navigation layout. Vandal Web met or exceeded all expectations when subjected to my
usability testing criteria, and comes highly reccommended as a resource for University of Idaho
registration and related activities.
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Agree Somewhat Disagree
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