(c) 2002 kelly donaldson, jane foo1 “i know it’s there, but i can’t remember where”...

(c) 2002 Kelly Donaldson, Jane Foo 1

“I Know It’s There, But I Can’t Remember Where”

Designing And Implementing User-Centered Information Services Over The

Web

Kelly Donaldson and Jane FooSeneca College Learning CommonsComputers in Libraries, March 14, 2002


The Learning Commons The Learning Commons

Learning Support Initiatives

Appendices

Setting the Stage

Bibliography

Contact Us

Issues

The Learning Commons

“… a blend of library expertise, learning centre academic support, audio-visual services and microcomputer resources in one accessible academic facility”

Goals of the Learning Commons Web Site

To enhance user’s research & information literacy skills and develop their computer literacy skills

To provide users with a diverse range of learning-centered resources and services that are up-to-date, relevant, flexible and progressive

LCO Project Facts

UCD and IA in Action



LCO Project Facts

Contact Us

Setting the Stage



Issues

Appendices

Bibliography

LCO Project Facts

StructureP ro jec t R oles

-> sub d ivid e d a ccord ingto va rio us con ten t a re aso n th e W e b s ite

B or row er Info

Internet R esourc es

C omputing H elp

A ud io-V isua l

etc .

C ontent Team (20+)

N avigation

G raphic Des ign

Design T eam (5)

H T ML

P rogramming

S ys tem A dmin.

T ec hnic al T eam (6)

Web C ore T eam (4)(Web Manager, Web C oord inator, T eam L eads)



LCO Project Facts

LCO Project Facts

ResourcesStaff:

Approx. 40 staff members involved 4 campuses 3 different service areas (A/V,

Library, Learning Centre)

Technical: Content development: Word Web site structure: Visio Web Development: Dreamweaver,

HomeSite Graphic Design: Photoshop Other: Linkbot, BOBBY, EZSort

Money: staffing, software, and a test server

Contact Us

Setting the Stage



Issues

Appendices

Bibliography


LCO Project Facts

Framework

The project was developed utilizing principles derived from both

User Centered Design (UCD) and

Information Architecture (IA)

Recurring Themeso Functionality

o Scalability

o Consistency / Standardization

o UsabilityContact Us


Setting the Stage

LCO Project Facts



Issues

Appendices

Bibliography


Setting the Stage

Setting the Stage …

…for User-Centered Designo Understand the users and the user’s tasks,

information needs and contexto Use existing information / design expertise

(user-centered, not user-driven)o Keep it simpleo Rapid prototypingo Iterate, iterate, iterate !

…for Information Architecture

o Figuring out what we wanted the site to doo Creating order out of chaos

To find a form that accommodates the mess,

that is the task of the artist now.- Samuel Beckett

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LCO Project Facts



Issues

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Bibliography


Setting the Stage

Information Architecture

Building your Infrastructureo Information architecture is the

“science” of figuring out what you want your site to do

o constructing a blueprint before diving in and starting to put things together

This includes determining:o content o site structure (narrow vs. deep)o organization of informationo relationships between informationo headings/labels for information

….all of which were determined from user feedback.

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LCO Project Facts



Issues

Appendices

Bibliography

87


Information ArchitectureArchitectural blueprint of LCO homepage


Information ArchitectureText version of architectural blueprint

Notes: Items in red are not yet developed Strikethrough items have been deleted from the site 1. Homepage2. Find Magazines & Newspapers2.1 Library Catalogue (BIBCAT)2.2 Seneca's Electronic Resources

2.2.1 Alphabetically 2.2.2 Canadian Content

2.3 Electronic Magazines & Newspapers Titles List ("alphabetically" & "by subject)

2.4 Electronic Resources Search Features Chart 2.5 Get Help Finding Magazines, Journals & Newspapers

2.5.1 Why Use Magazines & Newspaper Articles?2.5.2 How do I Find an Article?2.5.2 Evaluating Magazines, Journals & Newspapers

(links to 23.2)2.5.3 Saving Your Results

2.5.3.1 Printing(links to ?)

2.5.3.2 Downloading(links to ?)

2.5.4 Style Guides/Citing Information(links to 22.2)

2.5.5 Off Campus Access to Magazines, Journals & Newspapers(links to 5.2)

2.5.6 Plagiarism (information for students)(links to 22.7)




oCard Sorting and Cluster AnalysisoUsability tests : task-oriented

prototype testing

Utilized to help determine site:o content o functionality

Also used to determine the most effective means of:

o organizationo navigationo labelingo terminologyo home page layout

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography



Card Sorting/Cluster Analysis

User performs card sorting

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography




Results of card sorting grouped and analyzed

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography




Cluster analysis performed by IBM’s EZSort based on results of card sorting

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography



Usability Testing

A paper prototype of the LCO homepage was placed in front of the user, who was then asked to explain where they would look on the site to accomplish the following tasks:

Task One (15 min)You want to find some journal articles that discuss the life and literature of Margaret Atwood for an English

essay that you have to write. What do you do?

Task Two (15 min)It is almost the end of your last semester, and you are trying to find out how much money you owe in fines for

overdue books. What do you do?

Task Three (5 min)The new semester has just started, and you want to look

at your timetable for this semester. What do you do?

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography



Some Interesting Tidbits

Users don’t always think the same way we do! For example, from a student’s perspective:

Question: What is one of the most important things to see on a library homepage?Answer: Employment Resources

Question: Where would you go to find information about your overdue library fines?Answer: Collection Development

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LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography



Some Interesting Tidbits

Users don’t understand terminology such as:

oCirculation DepartmentoPeriodicalsoInterlibrary Loans

Users do understand terminology such as:

oBorrower ServicesoMagazines and JournalsoBorrowing Books From Another

Library

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography




The following are just some of the collaborative projects being developed as a result of LCO and user testing:

oResearch by SubjectoPersistent Course ResourceoResearch Success TutorialsoGetting StartedoVirtual Reference Service (Ask LCO

Live)

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography



Research by Subject

Users identified a desire to access information by subject area.

Specifics: Subject areas based on Seneca specific

programs/courses All pages utilize a standardized page layout

and subheadings (template) Each page is owned and maintained by a

library staff who is considered the expert of that subject area

All resources on each page are created and reviewed according to “Research by Subject Content Evaluation Guidelines”

http://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca/learningcommons/Library/ResearchbySubject/

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography



Persistent Links

Users wanted to be able to easily access full-text resources.

These links provide direct (one-click) access to customized online full-text resources for Seneca courses and programs.

MySeneca / Blackboard online courses http://my.senecacollege.ca

Non-Blackboard online course (IHP 601) http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/aahs/health/IHP/601/

SeneSCAN: Environmental Scanning http://www.senecac.on.ca/senescan/

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography

http://my.senecacollege.ca/

http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/aahs/health/IHP/601/

http://www.senecac.on.ca/senescan/



Research Success Tutorials

Users identified a desire to participate in self-directed learning.

A collaborative effort undertaken by faculty and librarians.Development and implementation of various online, interactive tutorials

Programs to date include:o Businesso Englisho Nursingo Travel & Tourismo ELI (http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/library/eli)

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography

http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/library/eli



Getting Started

Users explained that they like things “quick and simple”.

This page provides them with an overview of the research process and quick links to each topic

Highlights include:o Selecting and understanding a topico Searching for and evaluating

information from various sourceso Issues to consider during the writing

processhttp://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca/learningcommons/Library/GettingStarted/researchPage.html

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography

http://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca/learningcommons/Library/GettingStarted/researchPage.html

http://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca/learningcommons/Library/GettingStarted/researchPage.html



Ask LCO Live

Users love to chat!

o Live, real-time reference serviceso Currently performing a pilot

project with designated courses throughout Seneca

o On-going staff trainingo On-going user testing to test both

look and functionalityo Increasing hours of availabilityo Potential future partnerships with

a library from Australia in order to provide 24 hour service

http://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca/learningcommons/LCGeneral/VRSIntro.html

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

Bibliography


Issues

Past and Remaining Issues

1. Politicalo No comment!

2. Contento Maintenance of existing contento Ongoing development of new

contento Continued user testing of content

to ensure usability

3. Designo Logo, visual look and

stakeholders

4. Technicalo ITTo Staff training and developmentContact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage



Appendices

Bibliography


Appendices

Seneca College Links

Ask LCO Live:http://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca/learningcommons/LCGeneral/VRSintro.html

Getting Started:http://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca/learningcommons/Library/GettingStarted/researchPage.html

Learning Commons Online:http://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca/

Research by Subject Pageshttp://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca/learningcommons/Library/ResearchBySubject/CorporateCommunications.html

Research Success Tutorials (restricted access)

MySeneca / Blackboard online courseshttp://my.senecacollege.ca

Non-Blackboard online course (IHP601) http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/aahs/health/IHP/601/

SeneSCAN: Environmental Scanninghttp://www.senecac.on.ca/senescan/

Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage



Issues

Bibliography


Bibliography

Bibliography

Information Architecture:Rosenfeld, Louis and Peter Morville. Information Architecture for the World Wide Web. Cambridge: O’Reilly, 1998. Shiple, John. “Information Architecture Tutorial.” Webmonkey. 8 Jan. 2002. http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/design/site_building/tutorials/tutorial1.html.

UCD and IA in Action: “EZSort (beta release).” IBM. 9 Jan. 2002. http://www-3.ibm.com/ibm/easy/eou_ext.nsf/Publish/410.

“What is Card Sorting?.” 12 Dec. 2001. Information & Design. 9 Jan. 2002. http://www.infodesign.com.au/usability/cardsorting.html

User-Centered Design:Hackos, JoAnn T. and Janice C. Redish. User and Task Analysis for Interface Design. New York: Wiley & Sons,1998.

Krug, Steve. Don't make me think! : a common sense approach to Web usability. Indianapolis, Ind.: Que, 2000.

Norman, Donald A. The design of everyday things. New York: Basic Books, 1988.

Nielsen, Jakob. Designing web usability. Indianapolis, Ind.: New Riders Publishing, 2000.

“User-Centered Design.” IBM. 9 Jan. 2002. http://www-3.ibm.com/ibm/easy/eou_ext.nsf/Publish/570Contact Us


LCO Project Facts

Setting the Stage



Issues

Appendices


LCO Project Facts


Bibliography

Contact Us

Questions?

Learning Commons Web site:http://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca

Kelly [email protected]

Jane [email protected]


Setting the Stage


Issues

Appendices

(c) 2002 kelly donaldson, jane foo1 “i know it’s there, but i can’t remember where”...

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