Formative Evaluation for Educational Product

Development*Or, how to tell if this thing you made is worth its salt

Vanessa Gennarelli Learning Lead, P2PUMaster’s Candidate, Harvard University@mozzadrella

Why Should I Test My Product?Can folks use it?

Evaluate usability and nomenclature.

Do users like it?

Measure appeal and engagement.

Does this audience get it?

Test comprehension and recall.

What is Formative Evaluation?

Testing an educational product with users during development.

The results inform the direction of the product.

Process can be conducted at any time.

Speedy stuff--time is of the essence.

Who Uses Formative Evaluation?

Who Uses Formative Evaluation?

Who Uses Formative Evaluation?

That’s peachy, Vanessa.

That’s peachy, Vanessa.Can I do this myself?

Do I have time for formative evaluation?Is there an easy way to get started?

The answer is “yes”...And you will crush it.

Methods: InterviewsA structured protocol of questions with a target user.

Benefits:

Learn the vocabulary and logic of your users.

Deep investigation of appeal, engagement and comprehension.

Limitations:

Recruitment, research and analysis is time-intensive.

Methods: InterviewsSample questions:

Appeal:

What badge would you want to share with a friend?

Which would you apply for? Not apply for?

Comprehension:

[Stop activity]: What just happened?

What does this badge mean?

Methods: Think Aloud ProtocolAs a user walks through your product they narrate what they notice, think, feel, look at, and decide.

Benefits:

Observe hesitations, hiccups and trouble spots.

Observe positive and negative reactions.

Limitations:

Interviewer needs to stay quiet, can be awkward.

Methods: Think Aloud ProtocolSample Questions:

You have completed a project and are applying for a badge. Apply for a badge, describing what you notice and think at each step of the way.

Select a badge you’d like to apply for. Describe and explain each action you make.

Example: P2PU Course UXUsertesting.com: asked folks to create a course3 respondentsVideo recording of users--where do they get stuck?

Example: P2PU Course UX

Results informed our new Course UXFull report: http://www.slideshare.net/VanessaGennarelli/design-research-course-creation

Methods: Focus GroupsA structured protocol with 2+ more targeted users.

Benefits:

Feedback from several users at once.

Limitations:

In a group setting, bias can be an issue.

Recruiting several users can be difficult.

Methods: Focus GroupsSample questions:

Appeal: What did you like most? Least?

Engagement: What would you like to know more about?

Comprehension: What do you understand the difference between [Badge X] and [Badge Y] to be?

Methods: QuestionnairesSeries of questions that may have standardized answers.

Benefits:

Lightweight in regards to collection and analysis.

Limitations:

Tricky to ask precise and reliable questions.

No observational data, questionnaires are all self-reported data.

Methods: Questionnaires

Sample QuestionsAppeal:

Rate how much you like/dislike [Badge X] on a 1-5 scale (1=least, 5=most)

Comprehension: Rate the clarity of [Badge X] on a 1-5 scale (1=least clear, 5=most clear)What are 3 things you learned about from [X]?

Methods: Click-testingVeryifyapp asks users to click on their preferred design, annotate the screen, or test the labels on your pageBenefits:

Great for expectation questions “Where would you expect to find...”Testing navigation & nomenclatureInexpensive & fast

Limitations:Adult testers only

Example: P2PU Home Page

Users were asked to highlight where they could click to create a course538 viewers, 62 responses

Example: P2PU Home Page

Results informed our new P2PU.org home pageFull report: http://www.slideshare.net/VanessaGennarelli/user-research-p2puorg-home-page

1

Sample Project ScheduleIdentify research areas--what are you evaluating?

Decide upon tools and methods.

Recruit participants from target user base.

NB: You may need a release.

Conduct research.

Analyze results & present to project team.

Target timeframe: 1 week.

Mad Props1Karen Brennan, Assistant Professor, Harvard Graduate School

of Education

Mindy Brooks, Director of Education and Research, Sesame Workshop

Brad Felix, Chief Products Officer, Sangari Global Education

Allison Gevarter, Interactive Producer, CloudKid Media

Ilona E. Holland, Lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Ask things!

Vanessa Gennarelli Learning Lead, P2PUMaster’s Candidate, Harvard University@mozzadrella