This project requires students to conduct a usability test of a product or website and write a technical white paper and screencast summarizing the results. For the test, students will observe themselves completing tasks to identify usability issues. The white paper will describe task results and analyze usability, while the screencast will demonstrate a specific finding. The goals are to evaluate ease of use and learn how to test and report on the user experience.

1. ENGL 317 Technical Writing Page 1 of 2
Project 4:
Usability Testing
User-centered (UX) design is a process where the needs, wants, and limitations
of users are given extensive attention at each stage of designing something. The
testing of UX design informs everything we use from the app on your phone to
the design of traffic intersections. In this project, you will compose two project
deliverables.
For the first, you will design and conduct a usability test known as a "cognitive
walkthrough" where you will be the user and the observer of what you test. The
goal is to identify any usability problems and collect qualitative and quantitative
data to determine your satisfaction with the products or website(s). For the
second deliverable, you will demonstrate a finding from your usabiity test in a
screencast. A screencast is a video that captures actions taking place on a
computer screen with voice-over narration.
Project Deliverables:
Deliverable 1: Technical White Paper, submitted as a Word or PDF document
file. Page length will vary depending on screenshots you incorporate, and word
count will vary depending on what you have to describe as you do each task,
but about 2000 -2500 words for the descriptions should do it.
Don't fret about word count. Just be certain you are fully describing what
happened when you did each task in your test design.
Audience: designers of the products or website(s) you test.
Purpose: to determine the level of usability based on the five
components that define usability.
Deliverable 2: Screencast, about 3 minutes, demonstrating a finding from your
usability test, submitted a URL.
Audience: potential users of what you decide to test or if demonstrating
a problem, the designers of the product or website.
Purpose: to demonstrate a feature you found to be highly usable or a
usability problem.

2. ENGL 317 Technical Writing Page 2 of 2
Learning Objectives. After completing this project, you should be able to:
• explain the different types of usability tests and the five components that
define usability,
• design a usability test, including a data collection form,
• write-up findings from a usability test in the form of a technical white
paper,
• compose a screencast that demonstrates one or more usability test
findings.
Requirements and Guidelines
The concepts, requirements, and guidelines for this project are covered in
course materials and students should study and apply these as directed through
the project schedule.
Grading Rubric. I will use the following grading rubric to evaluate your work.
A-Level B-Level C-Level D-F Level
Demonstrates a
superior
understanding of
requirements and
concepts covered in
course materials.
Demonstrates a
thorough
understanding of
requirements and
concepts covered in
course materials.
Demonstrates a basic
understanding of
requirements and
concepts covered in
course materials.
Demonstrates little to
no understanding of
requirements and
concepts covered in
course materials.
Project deliverable(s)
demonstrate
excellent mastery in
executing
requirements and
concepts covered in
course materials.
Project deliverable(s)
demonstrate a more
than basic mastery in
executing
requirements and
concepts covered in
course materials.
Project deliverable(s)
demonstrate a basic
mastery in executing
requirements and
concepts covered in
course materials.
Project deliverable(s)
demonstrate little to
no mastery in
executing
requirements and
concepts covered in
course materials.