EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media

Assignment 3
(Individual)
Website Usability Report

by
Garth W. Williams
ID#92073695

A Paper Presented in Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements of
EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media
Semester 2, 2016

Email:

garth.williams2@my.open.uwi

University:

University of the West Indies Open Campus

Instructor

Dr. LeRoy Hill

Garth Williams

Page 1 of 9

Due: 22/4/2016

EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media

Usability Evaluation Report

Student Name: Othneil Blackwood
Website URL:
http://edid6508blackwood.weebly.com/
Evaluator:
Garth Williams

Introduction

In Module 1 of this course, we were reminded that good design of a web site begins with
the users in mind. The evaluation of the usability of Othneil Blackwoods website is
therefore from the perspective of the users.
The elements of usability assessed were guided by an evaluation rubric (See below) which
categories the elements of the web site to be evaluated as follows.
Layout and Content
Navigation
Links (content)
Fonts
Graphics and Images (accessibility)
Copyright
Spelling and Grammar
Each criteria was evaluated and the findings are as follows:

Garth Williams

Page 2 of 9

Due: 22/4/2016

EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media

The Results of the Evaluation

The evaluation scores and my comments are indicated below.
Scoring Guide
Student Name:
Website URL

Othneil Blackwood
http://edid6508blackwood.weebly.com/

Evaluator
Garth Williams
Grading Scale:
5= Sophisticated demonstration of skills
4 = Above average demonstration of skills,
3 = Average/Expected demonstration of skills,
2 = Somewhat nave or limited demonstration of skills,
1= Show no demonstration of skills,
0 = No submission
Score Weight
Requirement

Maximu Comments
m%
allowed

Usability Website & report formatted with

elements as instructed in activity 3.2. The
following areas are addressed adequacy:
Content & Layout
Navigation
Links (content)
Background and Color Choices
Fonts
Graphics & Images(accessibility)
Copyright
Spelling and Grammar
FINAL SCORE

5
1.5
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
9.7

5
1.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
10.0

(Out
of 5)

Garth Williams

5
5
3
4
5
5
5
5
5

Page 3 of 9

1
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

See below
See below
See below
See below
See below
See below
See below
See below

Due: 22/4/2016

EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media

Content & Layout

The optimal content and layout should have a well- stated clear purpose and theme that is
carried out throughout the site. It should be exceptionally attractive and has a usable
layout. It should be to locate all important elements. White space, graphic elements and/or
alignment are used effectively to organize material.
Findings: All the above requirements are met the purpose of the website was clearly
articulated in audio and text from the home page and the about me page. Five ( 5) main
pages are neatly aligned and subpages appears with mouse over. They provide clear
correct descriptions of content and contain all assignments. Plenty of clean white space on
each page with a consistent personalised landing page gives a good look and feel.

Navigation

For optimal navigation, links for navigation should be clearly labelled, consistently placed,
allow the reader to easily move from a page to related pages (forward and back), and take
the reader where s/he expects to go. A user does not become lost.
Findings: Most of the above requirements are met all 5 main menu tabs: Home, About
me, Portfolio, Blog and Contact Me as well as their subpages move easily from page to
page. Two areas require revision.
The main area that requires revision is the multimedia tutorial on skype in the classroom.
As a learner using the tutorial, I could navigate but I did not have full control of where I
want to go. For example, when in Global Collaboration, I am forced to go to the next
subject, Skype in the Classroom. A similar feeling of not being in control is experienced
with the sequencing of the surveys, and evaluation and feedback quizzes.
The other area is the Contact email at the end of my first webpage. It collects the user
name and email address, but then requires the user to set up an account without knowing
why. Here auto account set up for the second email request.

Garth Williams

Page 4 of 9

Due: 22/4/2016

EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media

Links (Content)

All links should point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites.

Findings: Almost all the links navigate to a credible site. The site on the Canadian Forces'
Training Development Centre (CFTDC) in Ontario, Canada is a must see for those you want
a peak into how the Military uses instructional methodologies in their strategies.
Only one of the YouTube videos is private and does not play. Consider changing to
Unlisted or public.

Background and Colour Choices

There should be adequate text-t-background contrast, and consistency of colours with the
theme of the website.
Findings: This requirement is met.

Garth Williams

Page 5 of 9

Due: 22/4/2016

EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media

Fonts

The fonts should be consistent, easy to read and point size varies appropriately for
headings and text. Use of font styles (italic, bold, underline) should be consistent and
improves readability.
Findings: This is met

Graphics & Images (Accessibility)

Graphics should be related to the theme/purpose of the site, thoughtfully cropped, of high
quality and enhance reader interest or understanding. All images, especially those that
are used for navigation, should have an ALT tag that describes the image and its link so
people who are visually impaired can use the Web site well.
Findings: These requirements are met. A considerable number of links to graphics and
image files are in assignment 2 subpage of the Portfolio page.

Copyright

Fair use guidelines should be followed with clear, easy-to-locate and accurate citations for
all borrowed material. No material should be included from Web sites that state that
permission is required unless permission has been obtained.
Findings: These requirements are met. Sources are sited as appropriate. Even the name
and singer of a song used in an audio was sighted.
Spelling & Grammar
There should be no errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the
Web site.
Findings: Requirements are met.

Garth Williams

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Due: 22/4/2016

EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media

References
C.R.A.P. Principles of Graphic Design, section 3.1 from the book Designing
Business Information Systems: Apps, Websites, and More (v. 1.0). Available at:
http://bit.ly/1BxqNTj
Designing for the Web. Available at: http://designingfortheweb.co.uk/
International Organization for Standardization, (1998). ISO9241 Ergonomic, Part 11:
Guidance on usability. Geneva, Switzerland.Retrieved on 30/4/2016 from
https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:9241:-11:ed-1:v1:en
Jabar M. A., Usman Abbas Usman, Sidi F. Usability Evaluation of Universities Websites.
Retrieved on 30 April 2016 from http://www.aicit.org/IJIPM/ppl/IJIPM263PPL.pdf
Meyers, Peter J. (2016) 25 Point Website Usability Checklist. Retrieved on 30/4/2016
from http://drpete.co/blog/25-point-website-usability-checklist
Mobile UX Checklist, - Top Design Upgrades to Make Your Mobile Revenue skyrocket.
Retrieved on 30/4/2016 from http://www.mobify.com/static/downloads/mobileux-checklist-mobify.pdf
Usabilitygov. (2016). Usabilitygov. Retrieved 30 April, 2016, from
http://www.usability.gov/what-and-why/usability-evaluation.html

Garth Williams

Page 7 of 9

Due: 22/4/2016

EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media

APPENDIX 1

Website Evaluation Rubric

This evaluation was guided by the following Evaluation Rubric provided by Dr. LeRoy Hill,
the EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media course facilitator.
CATEGORY
Content &
Layout

Navigation

4
The site has a wellstated clear purpose and
theme that is carried out
throughout the site.
The Web site has an
exceptionally attractive
and usable layout. It is
easy to locate all
important elements.
White space, graphic
elements and/or
alignment are used
effectively to organize
material.
Links for navigation are
clearly labeled,
consistently placed,
allow the reader to
easily move from a page
to related pages
(forward and back), and
take the reader where
s/he expects to go. A
user does not become
lost.

Links
(content)

All links point to high

quality, up-to-date,
credible sites.

Fonts

The fonts are consistent,

easy to read and point
size varies appropriately
for headings and text.
Use of font styles (italic,
bold, underline) is used
consistently and
improves readability.

Garth Williams

3
The site has a
clearly stated
purpose and
theme, but may
have one or two
elements that do
not seem to be
related to it.
The Web pages
have an attractive
and usable layout.
It is easy to locate
all important
elements.
Links for
navigation are
clearly labeled,
allow the reader to
easily move from a
page to related
pages (forward
and back), and
internal links take
the reader where
s/he expects to go.
A user rarely
becomes lost.
Almost all links
point to high
quality, up-todate, credible
sites.
The fonts are
consistent, easy to
read and point
size varies
appropriately for
headings and text.

Page 8 of 9

2
The purpose and
theme of the site
is somewhat
muddy or vague.
The Web pages
have a usable
layout, but may
appear busy or
boring. It is easy
to locate most of
the important
elements.

1
The site lacks a
purpose and
theme.
The Web pages
are cluttered
looking or
confusing. It is
often difficult to
locate important
elements.

Links for
navigation take
the reader where
s/he expects to
go, but some
needed links
seem to be
missing. A user
sometimes gets
lost.

Some links do not

take the reader to
the sites
described. A user
typically feels
lost.

Most links point

to high quality,
up-to-date,
credible sites.

Less than 3/4 of

the links point to
high quality, upto-date, credible

The fonts are

consistent and
point size varies
appropriately for
headings and
text.

A wide variety of
fonts, styles and
point sizes was
used.

Due: 22/4/2016

EDID6508 Developing Instructional Media

Graphics
&
Images
(accessibili
ty)

Copyright

Spelling
and
Grammar

Graphics are related to

the theme/purpose of
the site, are thoughtfully
cropped, are of high
quality and enhance
reader interest or
understanding.
All images, especially
those that are used for
navigation, have an ALT
tag that describes the
image and its link so
people who are visually
impaired can use the
Web site well.

Graphics are
related to the
theme/purpose of
the site, are of
good quality and
enhance reader
interest or
understanding.
All images used
for navigation
have an ALT tag
that describes the
image and where
it links to so
people who are
visually impaired
can use the Web
site well.
Fair use guidelines are
Fair use guidelines
followed with clear,
are followed with
easy-to-locate and
clear, easy-toaccurate citations for all locate and
borrowed material. No
accurate citations
material is included
for almost all
from Web sites that state borrowed
that permission is
material. No
required unless
material is
permission has been
included from
obtained.
Web sites that
state that
permission is
required unless
permission has
been obtained.

Graphics are
related to the
theme/purpose
of the site, and
are of good
quality.
Most images used
for navigation
have an ALT tag
that describes the
image and where
it links to so
people who are
visually impaired
can use the Web
site well.

Graphics seem
randomly chosen,
are of low quality,
OR distract the
reader.
The needs of
visually impaired
Internet users are
ignored.

Fair use
guidelines are
followed with
clear, easy-tolocate and
accurate citations
for most
borrowed
material. No
material is
included from
Web sites that
state that
permission is
required unless
permission has
been obtained.

Borrowed
materials are not
properly
documented OR
material was
borrowed
without
permission from
a site that
requires
permission

There are no errors in

spelling, punctuation or
grammar in the final
draft of the Web site.

There are 4-5

errors in spelling,
punctuation or
grammar in the
final draft of the
Web site.

There are more

than 5 errors in
spelling,
punctuation or
grammar in the
final draft of the
Web site.

There are 1-3

errors in spelling,
punctuation or
grammar in the
final draft of the
Web site.

Adopted from http://rubistar.4teachers.org/

Garth Williams

Page 9 of 9

Due: 22/4/2016