Usability by Example

Due: handout by 9:00am and presentation in class on the due dates specified in the course Tentative Schedule.

Value: 30% (3 assignments in total, 10% each)

A good way to learn web design for usability is to apply information architecture (IA) theory and Web usability principles to examples of websites in order to identify usability problems as well as features that enhance usability. This assignment is designed to help you experience this way of learning. In addition, this assignment provides an opportunity for you to work collaboratively and to put to work the knowledge and skills regarding HTML and CSS that you learn each week. This is a group assignment.

This assignment relates to course objectives #1 to #5, and to SLOs 2 & 4.

Requirements:

From the very beginning of the course, try to pay attention to the usability of the websites you visit when you surf the Web in light of the IA theory and web usability principles you learn in this course.

Sign up for a group of 3 students, and choose any 3 of the Usability by Example assignments before the second class. Each week when there is one that is due for you, you will first identify 3 most important IA and usability principles from the required readings for the week, and discuss why you think they are most important. You will also identify two example websites that are still active, one properly following and the other seriously going against these principles. You will then evaluate these websites against these principles, and discuss why you think these websites are good or bad in relation to the principles identified. In addition, you will identify and discuss important issuesrelated to this week's reading (e.g., important points in the readings that you disagree with).

Present your work in class, including a brief summary of the readings, and try to generate some discussions that help enhance the class' understanding of the aspects of IA and web usability covered this week. Each group has 30 minutes in-class time.

Also, write down major ideas / points of your presentation as a handout and present it as a webpage (i.e., an HTML file) uploaded to the U of A web space of one of your group members. The coding of the webpage should reflect what you have learned from the HTML and CSS tutorials in the previous weeks.

Please note the following.

• Try to do the readings for the week early so that you have a better chance to find good examples of websites. If you start early, you probably won't need to go looking for them, they will come to you; just keep an eye out.
• Feel free to use any additional readings on the same topic that you feel could enhance your understanding of the topic or help with your evaluation.
  
• Focus on the topic of the week, even if the readings may be broader in coverage.
  
• The summary of readings should be concise. The emphasis should be on the important principles and the evaluation of websites applying these principles. There should be a close connection between these two parts.
  
• Do NOT use blogs or websites dominated by user-generated content, and try to avoid very bad or very simple websites because you tend to learn more by evaluating good websites. So, try to use websites that happen to violate the IA principles you are working with but are still good overall.  
  
• Be specific in your discussion and avoid being too generic (e.g., by using examples from the websites you evaluate to support or illustrate your claims or statements).
• Include elements or techniques from the tutorials before the week when a UBE assignment is due. For UBE1 that is due in Week 4, for example, you should include 3 or 4 elements or techniques covered by the tutorials schedued for Week 3, i.e., W3Schools HTML tutorials (Links to Blocks) in this case.
  
• Stay within the time limit (30 minutes).
  

Submission:

Email the URL of your handout by 9:00am and present your work in class on the due date.

General Evaluation Criteria (tentative):

• Understanding of concepts and identification of most important IA and Web usability principles from readings;
• Suitability of example websites for showing results of going for or against these principles;
• Application of IA and Web usability theory and principles in the evaluation of example websites;
• Demonstrated critical thinking;
• Demonstrated use of HTML and/or CSS techniques covered in tutorials and labs;
• Clear, well-organized and thought-provoking presentation and discussion in class;
• Attention to the requirements of the assignment.