Design implications from a usability study of GramStain-TutorTM

To examine interface issues in an educational software program, we recruited twenty-two users in health sciences departments for a usability study. Using the GramStain-Tutor (GST) CD-ROM, these users performed tasks in navigating the program and using various interactive features. Their actions and comments were recorded with a digital video recorder and an audio recorder. The main results of our study are: (a) the majority of the users did not use the multiple navigational options available in the program; (b) navigational patterns differed based on the training background and content knowledge of the users; (c) several visual cues critical to program use were not discovered by the majority of the users; and (d) icons representing specific functions were not intuitive from users’ perspectives. We demonstrated how a usability study of a relatively small number of users can identify specific problems in interface design. We recommend these interface problems be addressed before conducting educational studies that examine how educational software programs affect student learning. Usability testing Usability testing is a collection of evaluation methods that is increasing in popularity. It is based on observing how users perform tasks, and obtaining feedback from users through formal tests or compilations of user comments (Nielson, 1993). These results lead to a set of recommendations that are fed back into the design process with the end goal of improving the product. Thus, usability is an iterative process of collecting response data or user feedback on a product, re-designing the product in response to that feedback, and re-testing the product to examine whether changes have enhanced the usability. 09_Kim 10/10/2001 1:54 pm Page 595 (Black plate)