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Usability Plan
Website: Open Study at hyperphysics.phy-ast.gsu.edu
Samantha Staufenberg Thomas Long

Table of Contents

Title Page1 Table of Contents2 Statement of Purpose..3 Statement of Issues and Goals3 Description of Test Environment...3 User Profile.3 List of Participant Tasks.4 Methods of Evaluation4 Testing the Usability of HyperPhysics Site: Screening Questionnaire..5 Testing the Usability of HyperPhysics Site: Data Collection Form..6 Testing the Usability of HyperPhysics Site: Post Test Questionnaire7 Testing the Usability of an HyperPhysics Site: Task List Form....8

Statement of Purpose:
HyperPhysics is an educational website that contains information on scientific and mathematical content. Through completing this project we hope to obtain information on the user reliability and efficiency of the website, so the creators are aware of site features that are not intuitive for viewers. The creators could use the information collected to update the site and create a more user friendly site.

Statement of Issues and Goals:

As an educational site, the content, the lay out, and the usability of the site are important. Below we will list the issues that we consider vital, and the goals that we believe the site should be designed around. Issues: 1. Are users able to learn from the site? 2. Are users able to find information? 3. Is the degree in which a user can navigate the site based on preexisting knowledge? 4. Is visiting the site time effective? 5. Can visitors cite the website in research papers? Goals: 1. Users will be able to obtain knowledge from the site. 2. Users will be able to locate the information needed. 3. Users with less knowledge will be able to find information easily. 4. Users will be able to locate knowledge in a timely manner. 5. Users will be to cite the websites in a bibliography.

Description of Test Environment:

We will conduct the tests at the GJ lab. The GJ lab is located on the University of Idaho Campus. The Guass Johnson laboratory is a heavily used engineering computer lab. It receives a good deal of traffic every day consisting of engineering students.

User Profile:
We will focus on individuals that have an interest in science or math, or students that have a class where science or math is required. Some individuals may have years of science knowledge, others may only have rudimentary knowledge. As an educational site, the information should be easy for anyone to find.

List of Participant Tasks:

The list of tasks given here focuses on navigating the site quickly and effectively. They ensure that average readers can find both common and specialized knowledge equally well. Users are asked to find additional materials like media and applied principles. They also must be able to get citation information, contact information, and be able to find additional information about using the site. Users who are not native English speakers should be able to receive translational aide and all students are capable of asking for live help. 1. Look up a Bose-Einstein Condensation. 2. Look up a red giant star. 3. Find contact information for the site. 4. What is the name of the institution that runs HyperPhysics? 5. Look up the principles behind lightning. 6. Watch the hoop and cylinder video. 7. Ask for live help on a question. 8. Find info on purchasing Hyperphysics on DVD. 9. Translate the site into Spanish. 10. Find the periodic table of elements.

Methods of Evaluation:
We will evaluate the data collected by observing the body language and facial expressions during the test. We will also utilize a screening test, data collection test, and a posttest questionnaire to evaluate the efficiency and reliability of the site. A copy of each of the tests and the questionnaire will be provided in this plan.

Testing the Usability of HyperPhysics Site: Screening Questionnaire

Thank you for your willingness to take part in the study. This questionnaire will ensure that we are collecting data from a representative group. Participants of the study will be selected from those who volunteer. Name___________________________

1. Are you a student? _____________ 2. If Yes, then what is your major? _____________ 3. How knowledgeable are you in math or science? ____ a. Very Knowledgeable b. Knowledgeable c. Somewhat Knowledgeable d. Not Knowledgeable 4. How often do you use the internet for research? ____ a. Always b. Sometimes c. Never 5. How proficient are you at maneuvering websites? ____ a. Very Proficient b. Proficient c. Somewhat Proficient d. Not Proficient 6. How important is time management to you? a. Very Important b. Important c. Somewhat Important d. Not Important 7. Have you ever used the website HyperPhysics? _____________ 8. If Yes, how familiar are you with the site? a. Very familiar b. familiar c. somewhat familiar d. Not familiar

Testing the Usability of HyperPhysics Site: Data Collection Form

Participant: ________________________________________________ Observer(s):________________________________________________ Date:______________________________________________________ 1. Look up a Bose-Einstein Condensation. Success: 2. False Starts: Beginning Time: Ending Time:

Look up a red giant star. False Starts: Beginning Time: Ending Time:

Success: 3.

Find contact information for the site. False Starts: Beginning Time: Ending Time:

Success: 4.

What is the name of the institution that runs HyperPhysics? False Starts: Beginning Time: Ending Time:

Success: 5.

Look up the principles behind lightning. False Starts: Beginning Time: Ending Time:

Success: 6.

Watch the hoop and cylinder video. False Starts: Beginning Time: Ending Time:

Success: 7.

Ask for live help on a question. False Starts: Beginning Time: Ending Time:

Success: 8.

Find info on purchasing HyperPhysics on DVD. False Starts: Beginning Time: Ending Time:

Success: 9.

Translate the site into Spanish. False Starts: Beginning Time: Ending Time:

Success: 10.

Find the periodic table of elements. False Starts: Beginning Time: Ending Time

Success:

Testing the Usability of HyperPhysics Site: Post Test Questionnaire

Please answer the following questions by circling a number after each question and providing a brief explanation to explain your answer. Name___________________________ 1. How effective is the screen layout? Effective Ineffective 1 2 3 4 5

2. Is using the site time effective? Effective Ineffective 1 2 3 4 5

3. How likely would you be to use the site again? Likely Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5

4. How likely are you to recommend the site to others? Likely Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5

5. How likely are you to use this site in a research paper? Likely Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5

6. Did you feel that science or math knowledge helped or hindered your ability to navigate the site? _________

7. Would you suggest any ways the site can be improved?_____

Testing the Usability of an HyperPhysics Site: Task List Form

1. Look up a Bose-Einstein Condensation. 2. Look up a red giant star. 3. Find contact information for the site. 4. What is the name of the institution that runs HyperPhysics? 5. Look up the principles behind lightning. 6. Watch the hoop and cylinder video. 7. Ask for live help on a question. 8. Find info on purchasing HyperPhysics on DVD. 9. Translate the site into Spanish. 10. Find the periodic table of elements.