IT 337 SNHU Student Portal Recommendation Paper

User Generated

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Engineering

IT 337

Southern New Hampshire University

IT

Description

Competency

In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competency:

  • Analyze user problems to inform user-centered design solutions

Scenario

The IT department at MYU (MY University) is considering a new student portal. The current portal has been in use for a number of years, and learners are encountering numerous issues regarding usability. The university has decided to start fresh. Therefore, it has conducted a task analysis of what students have to do to register for a class within the current portal. As a usability engineer, you have been asked to analyze the issues that exist within the user interface and task analysis, then write a report to be shared with university officials. Within this report, you will provide recommendations and create user personas. Additionally, you have been asked to create a paper prototype that addresses issues identified within the task analysis and conduct an observation of someone using your prototype.

A woman looking at a laptop screen and taking notes

Directions

In order to create your 2- to 3-page report, you will have to experience the registration process using the demonstration system and Student Portal Task Analysis provided in the Supporting Materials section. Your project also involves an in-person observation of someone using the paper prototype you create in response to the issues you identify within the student portal. Plan accordingly; you will need time to recruit your subject, complete the observation, and document the experience.

Within your report, you must:

  • Identify user issues within the task analysis that impact usability
  • Provide written recommendations, informed by user-centered design, that could be implemented to improve usability. Your recommendations should address:
    • Effectiveness
    • Efficiency
    • Utility
    • Learnability
    • Memorability
  • Create three user personas based on the user profiles and task analysis. These personas will represent information regarding user needs (register for class, complete and turn in homework, access portals appropriate to major, complete assigned readings, petition to graduate), experiences, and behaviors when interacting with the student portal. For each persona, identify the user’s:
    • Age range
    • Familiarity or comfort level with technology
    • Time of access (e.g., early morning, late at night)
    • Method of access (e.g., PC, phone)

Additionally, you must:

  • Construct a paper prototype that resolves issues found in the task analysis. The paper prototype is a paper representation of the design that shows the tasks and subtasks the user must accomplish to complete the intended goal. Users are able to “interact” by pointing to a representation of a button, menu, or other options available through the interface. The designer (you) would present another paper representation showing the screen corresponding to the chosen option. Your prototype must address:
    • Navigation issues that users encounter
    • Language issues within the portal
    • Issues that users cannot recover from in the current portal
    • The needs of all three personas
  • Conduct an observation of someone using your paper prototype. You may recruit a coworker, family member, or friend. You will need to conduct this observation in person. During this observation, you will provide specific guidance to lead the user through the prototype while documenting their experience and your observations using the Prototype Observation Template provided in the Supporting Materials section. Plan accordingly; you will need time to recruit your subject, complete the observation, and document the experience.

What to Submit

To complete this project, you must submit the following:

Recommendation Report
This 2- to 3-page report includes:

  • The identified issues within the task analysis
  • Your recommendations to improve the user experience
  • User personas based on the user profiles and task analysis

Paper Prototype
The paper prototype is a paper representation of the design that shows the tasks and subtasks the user must accomplish to complete the intended goal. Users are able to “interact” by pointing to a representation of a button, menu, or other options available through the interface. The designer (you) would present another paper representation showing the screen corresponding to the chosen option. Since this is a paper prototype, you may need to submit scanned images or photos of your prototype.

Prototype Observation Documentation
Document the experience of the user and your observations using the Prototype Observation Template provided in the Supporting Materials section.

Unformatted Attachment Preview

IT 337 Project Two Prototype Observation Template Complete this template by replacing the bracketed text with the relevant information. Template Participant number: [Insert text] Observer: [Insert text] Date: [Insert text] Name of project: [Insert text] Task Number/ Description Start Time Issues Help Used/Given Completed? Stop Time [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] [Insert text] 1 Example Participant Number: 1 Observer: S. Jones Date: 3/02/2020 Name of Project: Website for Purchasing Emergency Supplies Task Number/ Description Start Time Issues Help Used/Given #1: Find a water filter to purify water and add to cart 10:30 a.m. Pop-up None immediately appeared offering discount, took participant several minutes to realize he could just accept and get back to beginning screen. Completed? Stop Time Yes 10:50 Saw headings on None screen—98.6, H2O, etc., and clicked on H2O. Did not realize he could just hover. Selected water bottle filter. Was reading to determine if this was what he wanted. Selected support. But was disappointed when it was not live help but an email. Went back to menu and selected filter from the H2O menu (again by clicking). Read and decided this was what he wanted. Added to cart. 2 IT 337 Project Two User Profiles Name: Sarah Age: 19 Marital status: Single Lives: With several other young women Student type: On campus, humanities major Current job: Receptionist at law firm Desired occupation: Lawyer Technology skills: Basic, but good Devices used: Laptops, phones Access to campus: Mornings and evenings Help used: None yet Name: Stephen Age: 21 Marital status: Single Lives: At home with parents and several younger siblings Student type: On campus, full time studying mechanical engineering, one year left Current job: None Desired occupation: Mechanical engineering job that will allow him to get his MS Technology skills: Very good, plays lots of games, social media Devices used: Dell laptop, android phone Access to campus: Day—stays at school all day to study when not in class Help used: None Name: Emily Age: 45 Marital Status: Divorced, two children, grown and on their own Student type: Part-time, online majoring in history Current job: Works as substitute teacher Desired occupation: Would like to work at a museum and do historical exhibits Technology skills: Struggles with technology, has mastered getting her assignments done and submitted Devices used: MacBook Access to campus: Days when not substituting, evenings if she had to work that day Help used: Has had three calls to the help desk, for getting her assignments and for getting them turned in Name: George Age: 20 Marital status: Single Student type: Full-time, on campus, no major as yet Current job: Part-time handyman at his apartment building, worked in construction for three years, saved money to go back to school Desired occupation: Unknown, taking basic courses: English, math, history Technology skills: Spends a lot of time on social media Devices used: iPad (for viewing movies), iPhone, MacBook 1 Access to campus: During the day for the three days he is on campus, at night the other days if he has handyman chores Help used: None so far, has been able to get his assignments turned in and access additional resources as needed Name: Rita Age: 50 Marital status: Single Lives: By herself Student type: Part-time, online, history major, first term Current job: Journalist Desired occupation: Author of historical fiction Technology skills: Basic, stays away from social media, reads articles on the web and uses Microsoft Word Devices used: Laptops, phone Access to campus: Mostly evenings Help used: Had to have help getting enrolled, also needed help getting access to her assignment and submitting it Name: David Age: 23 Marital status: Single Lives: With several other young men who work for different software companies Student type: Online, computer science, one year to go Current job: Develops apps and sells them online Desired occupation: Software developer, computer science developer Technology skills: Excellent Devices used: Android phone, multiple types of laptops (shares with roommates) Access to campus: During the day Help used: None Name: Susan Age: 28 Marital status: Married, two children, 6 and 8 Lives: With her husband and children Student type: Second term of online classes, writing and journalism Current job: None, went to university for one year but dropped out when she got married Desired occupation: Hopes to be a journalist Technology skills: Reasonable Devices used: Laptops, phones Access to campus: Works during the day until the kids get home from school Help used: Needed help to upload her first several assignments Name: John Age: 60 Marital status: Married Lives: With his wife 2 Student type: Online classes, part-time, art history Current job: VP of small manufacturing company Desired position: Will retire soon and would like to do some art work Technology skills: Not so good, used to having an admin Devices used: Laptops Access to campus: Evenings, weekends Help used: Several times, needed help accessing some materials in the library Name: Marlene Age: 35 Marital status: Single Lives: With her boyfriend Student type: On campus, full-time, user interface developer classes Current job: Software developer, on leave Desired position: User interface developer Technology skills: Excellent Devices used: Many different types of laptops, iPads, phones Access to campus: Days Help used: None Name: Jeff Age: 21 Marital status: Single Lives: Alone, in large apartment building Student type: On campus, in his third year, mainly history and political science Current job: None Desired position: CIA or FBI Technology skills: Very good, impatient with badly designed software Devices used: Latest MacBook Access to campus: Days when on campus, as well as at night and on weekends Help used: None Name: Jennifer Age: 40 Marital status: Divorced, two older children Lives: By herself in a condo Student type: On campus, returning student, went to school for two years before getting married Current job: Unemployed Desired position: Elementary teacher Technology skills: Medium, mostly used it for fun before now Devices used: MacBook Access to campus: Days and weekends Help used: Needed help to access library materials 3 Name: Leon Age: 65 Marital status: Single Lives: An apartment near his old store Student type: Online classes, part-time, interested in plays and playwrights Current job: Retired from running a local hardware store Desired position: Interested in working with the local theater group Technology skills: Not good Devices used: Dell laptop Access to campus: Most any time Help used: Several times, needed help enrolling, getting his first assignment downloaded and uploaded Name: Daryl Age: 25 Marital status: Married Lives: In an apartment with his wife, Cheryl (see below) Student type: On campus, full-time, business major, one more term to go Current job: Student Desired position: Will be starting a pottery business with his wife, wants to take some online accounting classes as well Technology skills: Expert Devices used: Dell laptop Access to campus: Evenings Help used: None Name: Cheryl Age: 23 Marital status: Married Lives: In an apartment with her husband Daryl (see above) Student type: On line, part-time, taking some business classes Current job: Instructor in a pottery school Desired position: Will be starting a pottery business with her husband Technology skills: Novice Devices used: MacBook Access to campus: Evenings Help used: None 4 IT 337 Project Two Student Portal Task Analysis We have conducted a task analysis of the student portal, and this document represents the results of that analysis. The numbered steps below represent the current process for registering for class through the student portal. You are a student at MYU who wants to register for a course to add it to your schedule. You know that there is limited time, but you want to take a full 18 credits to be sure you graduate on time. You will log on to the registration system, find the only open slot on your schedule, and attempt to add IT 110. You’ve heard good things about Professor Macy, and would like to enroll in her section if possible. Use this link to access the Student Portal Demonstration and then complete the following steps in order. 1) Click on Log In using the credentials already entered for you. Today, you are a student by the name of Eyetee Major. 2) Click on View Profile to check your profile information before you proceed. Then return to the Main Menu. 3) Click on View My Program to view the classes that you need to complete your program. You decide on IT 110 to fill out your current schedule. Then return to the Main Menu. 4) Click on View My Schedule to see the available times that you might add a section of IT 110. You notice that 3:00 MWF is available (but just barely). Return to the Main Menu. 5) Click on Search Classes/Register to search for IT 110 and available sections. Search criteria for the current term is already entered. Click on Search to execute the search. 6) Click on the checkbox at the beginning of the row containing Professor Macy’s 3:00 PM section of IT 110. This is the only section of hers that fits your schedule. Then, click on Register for Selected Course(s) to complete the registration. 7) Click YES to close the dialog box and complete the registration. This action returns you automatically to the Main Menu. 8) Click on View My Schedule to see your updated schedule with the newly registered class. Return to the Main Menu. 9) Click on View My Program to see your program updated with the R next to IT 110. Return to the Main Menu. 10) Log out. You have finished registering for your class.
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Explanation & Answer

View attached explanation and answer. Let me know if you have any questions.Howdy😀 I hope you're doing great! I've attached the final answers to this project down below. Please review it then let me know if you'll need any changes as usual, I'll be around to assist.Thanks a mil!😜

Paper Prototype


IT 337 Project Two Prototype Observation Template
Complete this template by replacing the bracketed text with the relevant information.
Template
Participant number: 3
Observer: James Stone
Date: 9/30/2021
Name of project: student portal
Task
Number/
Description

Start
Time

Issues

Help Used/Given

1.Register for
a course

13:00

Too many courses
to go through and
the participant was
confused at some
point on which
course they were
supposed to pick.

none

The participant
chose a time on the
schedule that was
not compatible with
any class and the
system did not give
an error message.

none

The participant
encountered a 500error message and
the site did not
explain what the
error entails or how
to solve the error.

Yes, the used clicked
the help button and
when they clicked the
help button the button
did not work.

1

Completed?

Stop
Time

Yes

13:15

Example
Participant Number: 1
Observer: S. Jones
Date: 3/02/2020
Name of Project: Website for Purchasing Emergency Supplies
Task Number/
Description

Start
Time

Issues

Help Used/Given

#1: Find a
water filter to
purify water
and add to cart

10:30
a.m.

Pop-up
None
immediately
appeared offering
discount, took
participant several
minutes to realize
he could just
accept and get back
to beginning
screen.

Completed?

Stop
Time

Yes

10:50

Saw headings on
None
screen—98.6, H2O,
etc., and cl...

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