The document provides feedback on the usability of the Educis website from the perspective of new users. It finds that while the interface is well designed, the site does not adequately explain how users can benefit from its features. It suggests Educis needs to better indicate scenarios for how users might apply its networking and content sharing tools for educational purposes. The review recommends introducing new users to potential uses and providing clearer instructions for interaction and communication within networks on the site. Overall, it emphasizes Educis should convince new users of the superior value its features provide over other options from the start.

1. Educis – A Review This is a composite of my own views and those of several people that I asked to have a good look. I find it laborious to begin each statement with ‘most people seemed to feel that’, where there is divergence of opinion I shall highlight this, otherwise assume that I am talking about the opinions of the majority that I spoke with. I just sat them down in front of the website with minimal briefing, I felt this was important as each new user will not be given their own personal Freddy Elletson to explain the site’s usefulness and will have no personal allegiance to you, and therefore will generally be quick to click the exit button if they are at all confused or dissatisfied. First off, the interface is fantastic. It is professional, and easy to navigate. Within any of your tutorials it would be very useful to explain the nuances of the interface, such as the ease with which you can switch between the network tab on the left while moving within folders and libraries. This is a very good thing. The structure is there. The main problem with Educis is your attitude to the new user. I feel you over estimate them. It is if you have this useful thing, and yes in person you can elucidate one as to the brilliance of its attributes, but the new user is expected to find this all by themselves. So yes the creation of tutorials, in video form and more importantly in an extensive help section, is vital. But it must be more than just ‘how do I create a network? Or a ‘How do I move about the website?’ I feel the new user should immediately be greeted with ‘how should I use Educis’, with examples, scenarios and tutorials. People seem to say, why yes this is great and clearly taken a lot of work, but they cannot fathom a use for it that is superior to the same use via email, the vle or facebook. This superior use does exist. It needs to be rammed down their thoughts. The new user is not going to search out your help guide pdf off the bat. Think. They should be immediately greeted with something that helps the new user tailor their own network (all the while you should be explaining how your networks are superior, eg. Previewing, privacy and the library system ((nowhere within the website to you ever explain why these are good or how specifically to use them))). Imagine they are met with - what do you need your network for? should it be private? How to I add people? New users should be met with help – so you want to create this kind of network, this is how. You need to take yourself out of the mindset of the creator and think how say a president of a society would feel on first use of Educis (actually do this). I would say to some extent, lost and confused. You need more than a video tutorial explaining navigation and how to create networks for this (but of course you need this as well). My key point is here, the first time user is looking to shoot down Educis at the first opportunity, this is a world of cynics, and they need to immediately be TOLD why and how they are GOING TO use Educis. So: by creating a network tailored for seminar groups, and because it allows me to share and view internet information of all kinds IN ONE PLACE. Your ‘Educis guide’, needs to integrate within the site, and needs to deal more with individual scenarios. I don’t feel you stress the brilliance of your preview system enough, like I say you need to ram this down their thoughts. It means rapid switch between sources of interest, no more frustrating switching between tabs. Chicks like arrogant dudes and new users like websites that proclaim that they are future, better than anything they are currently using. I know you feel educis is a tool, but if i handed to jackhammer I’m pretty sure you’d like me to explain for what purposes you could use it. You need find out what the new user wants to do, and give them clear instructions how to do it. An initial pop up screen possibly. You really do throw the new user into the deep end. Ok. So we’ve got a network, got a few people in it. Is everything crystal clear in what to do now? Not quite. First off the news system should be switched to a more of logged post system, I know you wish to differentiate from facebook but this is an issue of practicality. If someone wants to ask a question (just textually, i.e. Not adding library media) , for instance say about a seminar question, by just adding to news there is not alert, people cant recognise that someone had said something to the entire network. Furthermore, the front page of a network needs to be more informative, people are very confused here. So if I'm am a member of a seminar (yes I've simulated this) and so I’ve joined a group - I don’t understand how to talk to all the other members, in discussion form whereby people can respond to the responses of other not just my initial question. Rather than the same message to everyone. If I take some notes and add them to the seminar group library, this should be alerted and linked on the front page to bring the other members of the group to it. Furthermore I cannot see anywhere for me to comment, respond with my own media to or discuss the things added to the library, something you championed in the creation of Educis. There is no, obvious at least, facility for the responses of others in the network to library addition (in my eyes a key facet of Educis). It should be made more obvious how to communicate, add notes to other people notes etc. And linking to the first paragraph this should all be made clear while they are making and joining networks. The view I get is, ok I see this network, I see the people in it, and I see how I can add stuff and view the stuff that others have added. By how on earth to I interact with all these things. More cohesion required. Right now people just see a way for people to join a network that allows them to view and add (depending if they are an admin) links to things in a collective library. They need to shown how they can create a living network where people are continuously adding, commenting and organising. They do not see how to do this. Alerts for additions are a vital addition, people do not want to have to check all their networks every time. Also I don’t understand, is it just the admin who can edit and add, then it isn’t very clear for those joining a seminar group network as they aren’t immediately admins so can only view stuff, they then have to wait to be made admins?. The main crux of responses I would say is the need for more clarity. So on Educis, again say for a seminar group, you can all write notes or plans or whatever for one week and also link everyone to good articles you have find, and have it one single folder from which you can preview it and thus read it there (and should also easily be able to discuss and comment on them), not having to download, save and organise it through confusing use of emails and such. This is fantastic. Make this CLEAR, why it is so useful and how to unlock this utility. People will not persevere and try Educis and then stumble upon what is great about it, they need to be shown and convinced. I hope this was helpful. Ps. this was written before your live tutorial thing the other day. So I’ll add this. Your presentation and speech I felt was perfect, just right. Real good job. You clarified, to some extent, how we should be using Educis and for what means we could do, especially with regard to the preview systems, you need to provide this sort of greeting and explanation (textually and with video ((but more so textually))) to the first time Educis user on the site itself, one who will never meet you personally. PPS. Don’t get the impression that the feedback was largely negative. Far from the case, I simply filtered all my material, by giving you the things I felt you would find useful, in people’s response to trying to use Educis. I didn’t say, how do you think Freddy has done with Educis? I said, could you use Educis in this form and how could it be made easier to use? Again, I hope it was useful. PPPS. Keep grinding, I’m with you bro. “If you ever wanted to ever to be anything, they’ll always be someone that’ll shoot down any dream”. Tell me what you think.