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Tutorial #8: Using the Streamlined Cognitive Walkthrough MethodMonday, July , 8:30-5:00Keywords:Cognitive walkthroughs, User-centered design, User interface designAbstractThe Streamlined Cognitive Walkthrough method can reveal usability problems with a UI design early in the development cycle, with team buy in, and with a reasonable amount of time and effort. We teach participants how to perform a SCW, and how to use the results in redesign efforts.Improvements to the TutorialThis tutorial was presented at UPA 2001 in Las Vegas, and though it was very well rated by the attendees, some feedback indicated that some of the topics were too advanced for the participants. The tutorial has been modified to include a demonstration of an SCW at the start of the class, more background on the walkthrough itself, and less discussion of advanced topics.Targeted AudienceBeginner and intermediate usability engineers will benefit most from this tutorial since it goes in depth into doing a task analysis, conducting a walkthrough, and redesigning.Product CategoryNo specific system, product, or project orientationTopic CategoryUsability method implementation or adaptationDuration1 full day tutorialLearning Objectives1. How to use a simple task analysis methodology to prepare the inputs for a cognitive walkthrough2. How to conduct a cognitive walkthrough effectively and efficiently, including how to keep the walkthrough on track, and how to capture data during the walkthrough 3. Strategies for incorporating the results of the walkthrough back into product design Detailed Description The tutorial will be presented in three segments, each including an explanatory lecture, and practice skills for one step of the design process. Preparing Inputs for the WalkthroughAn SCW requires the selection of scenarios, and descriptions of those scenarios that the team can walk through. We introduce the three guidelines for choosing scenarios for a Streamlined Cognitive Walkthrough.1. Realism 2. User Impact 3. Coverage of Features We provide an easy method for describing tasks with clear guidance on what level of granularity will yield the best results. The class will practice creating scenarios, and task analyses from those scenarios. Conducting a walkthroughConducting an effective Streamlined Cognitive Walkthrough session will be one of the most important determinants of the effectiveness of the method, therefore a good deal of the tutorial will be spent of learning how to conduct the sessions effectively. This part of the tutorial draws heavily from the description of the Streamlined Cognitive Walkthrough by Spencer at CHI 2000 .Convene the walkthroughPrepare the team to take part in the Streamlined Cognitive Walkthrough by:1. Clearly describing the goals of the walkthrough 2. Clearly describing what will be done during the walkthrough 3. Clearly describing what will be not done during the walkthrough 4. Defusing defensiveness 5. Posting ground rules Walkthrough the action sequences for each taskFor each action sequence, the usability professional first describes the action sequence and the system state after the correct action is performed. Then the team tries to answer the two questions for each action sequence.1. Will the user know what to do at this step? 2. If the user does the right thing, will they know that they did the right thing, and are making progress towards their goal? Redesign from the resultsIt is our belief that user interface design, even from data, is at its heart a creative process. HCI practitioners must consider what the data means, while unlocking their creative thinking in a way that bridges the gap between data about designs, and new designs. However, there are some basic steps that we commonly follow during our redesign efforts.Step 1: Look for patterns Step 2: Apply design patterns Step 3: Consider Consistency Step 4: Go Radical ScheduleIntroduction (30 Minutes)1. Introductions and descriptions of class (lecture) 2. Sample Walkthrough (instructors lead an actual walkthrough) 3. Background on SCW (lecture) Segment 1: Preparing the inputs for a Streamlined Cognitive Walkthrough (1 hour, 15 minutes) 1. Creating scenarios (lecture) 2. Creating scenarios (practice) 3. Doing a task analysis (lecture) 4. Doing a task analysis (practice) Segment 2: Conducting an effective Streamlined Cognitive Walkthrough (2 hours, 15 minutes) Preparing the team, (lecture/video) Conduction a session (lecture) Conducting a session (video) Conducting a session (practice) Comparing Results (group participation) Segment 3: Redesigning from the results of a Streamlined Cognitive Walkthrough (1 hour and 15 minutes) 1. Redesigning (lecture/group participation) 2. Redesigning (practice) Wrap Up (45 Minutes) 1. Comparing redesigns (group participation) 2. Comments/evaluation Number of Attendees This tutorial could easily scale to 100 participants. Author/Presenter BackgroundRick Spencer, M.A.Usability Engineer, Microsoft Mr. Spencer is a usability engineer with the Microsoft Visual Studio team and author of "The Streamlined Cognitive Walkthrough Method, Working Around Social Constraints Encountered in a Software Development Company" which appeared in the CHI 2000 proceedings. Currently, Mr. Spencer is acting as User Experience Lead for Microsoft's Enterprise Development Tools team. Marcia Glover, BFA UI Product Designer Ms. Glover is a UI Product Designer with the Microsoft Visual Studio team. Previously, she has worked on the Win3x and Win95 Help Systems, and the first publication of the Windows User Interface Guideline Manual. She attended Pratt Institute for a BFA in Graphic Design and Photography. |
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