For IDT 6700 we were tasked to redesign a technology of choice, which was Blackboard for this final project. The course tools I focused specifically on the redesign was the journal tool and session timeout warning. After initial prototype, focus group, and product evaluation I redesigned the Blackboard layout as displayed.

1. EPSS Redesign
Prototype #1
Original Design

2. Final Redesign
Accordingto userfeedbackduringthe EPSSEvaluation/UsabilityTest,usersthatdidnotread the
message promptfullyhadissuesnavigatingthe pop-upnotificationandmostspecificallythe “Ok”
button.Usersalso seemedconfusedaboutthe pop-upwindow “X”andminimizewindow iconsthatI
had previouslykeptinthe window formyfirstmock-up.Basedonthisfeedbackand user’sinabilityto
navigate the windowgiventhe description,Idecidedtochange the button“OK” to “StayLoggedOn” to
avoidfurtherconfusion.Byremovingexcessinformationandnavigationbuttonsthatcoulddeterthe
message athand,the newredesignfollowsNielson’s(1999) UsabilityHeuristicof providingvisibilityof
systemstatusand keepingusersinformedaboutwhatisgoingon, throughfeedback,aswell asaesthetic
and minimalistdesign.Therefore,byprovidinganotificationwindow thatsignalsthe learnerthatthere
isa change inthe systemdue toinactivityandisaestheticallyminimalistinthe designwill furtherhelp
learnersnavigate the systemandimproveuserinterfaceandoverall design.

3. Prototype #2
Original Design
Final Redesign

4. The Usabilitytestcompletedamongstthe three individualsthatIinterviewedyieldedverygoodresults
and veryfewsuggestions.The Journal tool wasinitiallynotaveryintuitive tool thatwashardto navigate
and use,therefore creatingadesignthatfollowedanaestheticandminimalistuserinterface was
apparent.The newuserinterface allowedthe learnerstoeasilynavigatetheirownposts,create anew
Journal entry,andexpandtosee course posts.Viewingthe course postswasextremelydifficultto
navigate inthe original BlackboardsystemsoIwantedtocreate a whole new layout/widgetthatiseasy
to findandself-explanatory. The reasoningbehindmy redesign wastoavoid cognitive overloadand also
followsthe userusabilityheuristicof “Recognitionratherthanrecall”.Iwantedusersto spendprecious
cognitive developmenttime onthe Journal taskathand ratherthan figuring outhow to view and
respondtotheirclassmate’s posts. Bystreamliningandcreatingacleanerinterface designJournal tool
thiswill followthe recognitionratherthanrecall usabilityheuristic,since thisdesignwillminimize the
user’smemoryloadby makingthe optionstoview course postsmore visible.

5. References
Nielson,J.(1995). 10 UsabilityHeuristics forUserInterfaceDesign.