Evaluating an interface design

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Date:

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which is a good way to evaluate an interface design?

A Say it looks nice because you made it

B Check it against a list of criteria, like easy to read and easy to use

2. Which one is a criterion you could put on an evaluation checklist?

A The text is easy to read

B I like pink

3. A user says, 'I could not find the Start button.' What does this feedback tell you?

A The design is perfect

B The design may not be easy to use

4. Which statement points to evidence?

A Three out of four users found the Play button in under 5 seconds

B I think most people will find the button

5. The requirements say the screen must show the score. The score is on the screen. What do you tick on your checklist?

A Meets the requirements: yes

B Meets the requirements: no

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1Criteria: easy to read		AA check that asks if the design does everything the user or teacher asked for in the plan
2Criteria: meets the requirements		BA check that asks if the text and colours are clear enough for the user to read without trouble
3Use a checklist to see if each criterion is met		CThe judgement is only an opinion. It does not check any criteria or give evidence, so it should say which criteria are met.
4Use feedback from users to judge the design		DThe tick has no evidence. It should point to proof, such as 'the text is large and dark on a light background'.
5Evaluation: "I like it, so it is a good design."		E[x] Easy to read [ ] Easy to use [x] Meets the requirements
6Easy to read: Yes (no evidence given)		FUser said: "I could not find the Start button."

Definitions

evaluate a design

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

__ easy_to_read = "yes" THEN ADD 1 TO score END IF

SET criteria TO ["readable", "easy to use"] FOR EACH _________ IN criteria CHECK criterion

INPUT ________ FROM user IF feedback = "no" THEN SHOW "Change the design"

IF size >= 16 THEN SET result TO "met" ____ SET result TO "not met"

SET total TO 3 SET met TO 3 IF met _ total THEN SHOW "Design passes"

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A Criterion: easy to hear

B Check: is the text big enough?

C Evidence: font size is 18

D Result: criterion met

Question 2

A Ask 3 users to try the app

B Ignore what each user says

C Count how many found it easy

D Result: 2 of 3 said easy

Question 3

A Criterion: easy to use

B Evidence: I think it is fine

C Result: criterion met

Question 4

A Criterion: easy to read

B Evidence: pale yellow on white

C Result: met

Question 5

A Checklist: 5 criteria

B [x] Easy to read

C [x] Easy to use

D [ ] Meets requirements

Answer Key

Evaluating an interface design

Section A: Quick Questions

B — Check it against a list of criteria, like easy to read and easy to use

A — The text is easy to read

B — The design may not be easy to use

A — Three out of four users found the Play button in under 5 seconds

A — Meets the requirements: yes

Section B: Match the Pairs

Criteria: easy to read → A check that asks if the text and colours are clear enough for the user to read without trouble

Criteria: meets the requirements → A check that asks if the design does everything the user or teacher asked for in the plan

Use a checklist to see if each criterion is met → [x] Easy to read [ ] Easy to use [x] Meets the requirements

Use feedback from users to judge the design → User said: "I could not find the Start button."

Evaluation: "I like it, so it is a good design." → The judgement is only an opinion. It does not check any criteria or give evidence, so it should say which criteria are met.

Easy to read: Yes (no evidence given) → The tick has no evidence. It should point to proof, such as 'the text is large and dark on a light background'.

Section C: Definitions

evaluate a design — To check a design against criteria, like easy to read, easy to use and meets the requirements, using a checklist, user feedback and evidence to show if each one is met.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

IF easy_to_read = "yes" THEN
  ADD 1 TO score
END IF

SET criteria TO ["readable", "easy to use"]
FOR EACH criterion IN criteria
  CHECK criterion

INPUT feedback FROM user
IF feedback = "no" THEN
  SHOW "Change the design"

IF size >= 16 THEN SET result TO "met"
ELSE SET result TO "not met"

SET total TO 3
SET met TO 3
IF met = total THEN SHOW "Design passes"

Section E: Spot the Error

A — The checks are about the size of the text, so the criterion is about reading, not hearing. It should be 'Criterion: easy to read'.

B — User feedback is only useful if you record it. The line should be 'Record what each user says'.

B — An opinion is not evidence. Evidence points to something real, like how many users found the Start button. It should be 'Evidence: 3 of 3 found Start'.

C — Pale yellow text on a white background is hard to read, so the criterion is not met. The line should be 'Result: not met'.

A — The checklist lists only three criteria, so the first line should say 3, not 5.