teaching practical uxd
DESCRIPTION
In August 2013 we inherited a new final year unit called User Experience Design. Our experience in teaching web design since 1996 has taught us that this needed to be an industry focused unit. We wanted to teach the practices and methods currently being used in the work place rather than creating just another HCI unit. Making use of our many generous contacts within the industry, we planned to bring in a variety of guest speakers 'to tell it as it is', telling their own stories, tips and advice. We consulted widely including among our own alumni. Even Steve Krug put an eye over the proposed programme and emailed back to say "Looks great!" We are now asking you - 'did we get it right'?TRANSCRIPT
Teaching UXDWhat we did
Richard Eskins and Jonathan WillsonManchester Metropolitan University
Teaching UXD
• Final Year unit• Shared by three degree routes– BSc (Hons) Web Development– BSc (Hons) Digital Media and Communications– BA (Hons) Digital Media / Marketing
• Not all students want to be UX pro’s
Timescale
• New for September 2013• Unit specification written 4 years earlier– Amalgamation of two previous units– Digital Libraries– Designing Online Learning
• Challenge to predict curriculum / industry needs that far ahead• We didn't know we were teaching it until September!
UXD in the curriculum
• UX taught as part of web design from year 1• Concepts and practice of web accessibility and usability
introduced in year 1• User journeys, user tasks, card sorting, personas, prototyping,
scripted usability testing session all introduced in year 2
Approach to UXD
• A new approach to teaching UX• Very much 'hands on'• Very much based on current industry practices• What do you guys actually do?– We asked people (including @lizziedyson)– We gathered a list of key tasks– We gathered a list of common methods and practices
Delivery
• We developed a programme• We developed an assignment• We drafted a schedule of guest speakers• We took a step into the dark …
The programme – 12 weeks
• Expert review, heuristics, ethnographic techniques • Successful surveys • Planning and conducting usability testing • Usability Lab testing • Guerrilla Testing• Eye Tracking in usability testing• Remote testing• Using Analytics for UXD • Pitching and presenting your findings
Our guests
• Planning and conducting usability testing – Chris Collingridge @ccollingridge, Sage
• Guerrilla Testing - Chris Bush @suthen, Sigma (last minute – Barry Briggs @quiffboy, Amaze)
• Eye Tracking in usability testing - Guy Redwood @eyetracking, SimpleUsability
• Remote testing – Userzoom - Lee Cooper @UserZoom and WhatUsersdo – Lee Duddell @whatusersdo
• Using Analytics for UXD - Paul Carysforth @paulcarysforth, Amaze• Pitching and presenting your findings - Jane Murison @mewroh, BBC
The assignment
• Three staged tasks• A range of methods• Individual and group work• Individual submission• Recorded presentation
Task 1 – Expert Review
• Group selects a web site• Site approved by tutors• Individuals undertake– Cognitive walkthrough– Heuristic evaluation
• Report back to group, share findings and confirm that choice of web site is suitable– Two groups changed to a different site
Task 2 – Guerrilla Testing
• Working as a group• Define issues to focus on• Prepare tasks, user types, consent form• Select tech (laptop, tablet, phone)• Screen capture, film, notes• Undertake sessions 'in the field'• Review findings
Task 3 – Final Testing Method
Choice of:• Eye tracking [Tobii eye tracker]• Lab based user testing [Morae recorder]• User survey [UserZoom]• Analytics [access required]• Remote User Testing [UserZoom, WhatUsersDo]
Matt's movie
• Example of student submission• http://youtu.be/AtUD9wMB0rk
Over to you
What could we do over 24 weeks?
Like to get involved
• Guest speakers• Involved in the assignment – groups researching for you• Advisor
• [email protected] - @eskins• [email protected] - @jp_willson