[UsabilityChart]. Retrieved February 18th, 2015, from: webdesign.org
1.) Goals: The goals of my usability test will be to:
- Discover flaws of clarity within my draft.
- Improve the instructions.
- Observe the difficulties my test subjects have.
- Add further suggestions that observers and test subjects have for my draft.
- To look how interested and persuaded my test subjects are in terms of my instructions and techniques.
2.) Audience: My target
audience is musicians that have little to a lot of experience in reading and playing music, but have no experience in composition. Two of my test subjects are Ryan and Ben in my technical communications course. The other test subject is a friend of mine who has some musical experience and has the ability to read music.
3.) Testing: A performance test is best suited for this type of project. A performance test could help me determine the subject’s though processes while playing around with their instrument of choice. Another test that could complement the performance test is an understandability test to determine if I explained the theoretical knowledge in layman’s terms to the best of my ability or if I I have to simplify it further.
4.) Planning a Usability Test:
a. Scope: I am testing a basic composition procedure. This procedure gives a set of instructions, which will allow the musician to compose a basic motif. The motif is a melody that can be used in any genre of music depending on the toppings and ornaments they add to it later on. The motif or sentence is the topic of the composition.
b. Purpose: Musicians will be able to start their journey in the world of composition by using a basic procedure. They will only compose one sentence or motif.
c. Schedule and location: Testing will be done at my house, and perhaps in the Wayne State music department. Due to the content of the WikiHow, the users have to approach this near their instruments and then report back to me. They will be asked to think out loud and use tools to help them compose.
d. Sessions: The sessions will be practiced alone for the sake of creativity and one meeting will take place in class. When they’re done composing a few melodies, they will report back to me. If it’s still too difficult or if there are some concerns, critical feedback will be beneficial for further improvement of the WikiHow.
e. Equipment: Piano/keyboard. Metronome. Sheet music. Sibelius/Finale. Instrument of choice.
f. Participants: Three participants. Two colleagues and one personal friend.
g. Scenarios: The participants will be asked to select a time signature, key signature, and first compose rhythms. They will be asked to write down the rhythms first and embed them within their mind. When that process is over, they will be asked to put tones in place of the rhythm.
h. Metrics:
- Was the introduction specific and straight to the point in describing the point of the WikiHow?
- Did the instruction persuade you?
- Did the instructions provide you with a basic outlet of how to use the tools required for composition?
- Did the images help further your understanding in the WikiHow?
- Were the tips helpful?
- Did the last section in the WikiHow influence you to continue your training as a composer?
5.) Roles: I will take notes throughout the procedures and listen to what the readers have to say in terms of their accomplishments through my WikiHow. If they have issues, I will take them into account and revise the procedures.