nathan mikeska richard carney neil alfredson brian navarro

Nathan MikeskaRichard Carney Neil AlfredsonBrian Navarro

Introduction

• Client: Prof. Susan Wiediger of the Chemistry Department• We need to develop a piece of software to automate the current system which consists of various card-sortingactivities performed by chemistry students.

Problem:

Purpose:First: The system will be an educational tool used by students.Second: The system will be a research tool used by our client and possibly other professors.

An Educational Tool

• The card sorting activities are designed to give students a better understanding of the periodic table and how it is organized.

• It focuses on users finding and understanding the relationships between many attributes and how to organize patterns based around these relationships.

• Could potentially be used in assignments for chemistry students.

A Research Tool

• The user (such as a student) can save their results after using the application.

• Another user (such as a professor) can load up a user’s saved results at a later date.

• This accomplishes two things: You can view a user’s end solution and how they moved the cards to arrive at that solution.

• Provides observational data that can support the examination of a user’s thought process.

The Current System

• Students are given a set of cards.

• Each card in a set has a list of attributes on it.

• Cards may have common values for some attributes but the total set of values for each card should uniquely identify that card within that set.

• Students are told to arrange the cards in the best possible pattern that they can find.

Current System Demonstration

Scope of the System

• Online System

• Single User Type – Anyone

• Primary User Scope: Our user is a chemistry student who performs the required tasks, saves the results, and submits through email those results to his/her chemistry professor.

• Secondary User Scope: Anyone else can perform the required tasks and do whatever they wish with the results.

Who Are the Primary Users?

Chemistry Students• Choose which set of

preloaded cards to work with

• Identify relationships and arrange cards on grid

• Add / Exclude cards in set

• Submit final arrangement of grid for professor’s observation

Chemistry Professors• Create new sets of cards• Edit existing sets• Create acceptable patterns

for new sets• Observe students moves• Able to access and use

system like a student

Non-Functional Requirements

• Simple intuitive interface– Mimics the current system– Easily understood without extensive training

• Documentation– Student online tutorial – Teacher online tutorial– Full manual for the general user

• Hardware Considerations– Web based system– Designed for Intel / Windows OS– Server with class size capability

• Performance Characteristics– Performs without lag– Reasonably short loading time– Limited difference in system response between

dial up and broadband connections

• Error Handling– Restoration of users session in event of system

crash / lost connection– No loss of observation files in crash

• System Modifications– The ability to add new sets– The ability to modify existing sets

• Security Issues– Still being investigated

Functional Requirements

The Grid

Play Area

Tiles (Digital Cards)

Creating a Pattern

Results Submitted

• The Grid The Grid is where tiles are dragged to and organized to create the pattern that connects the set together. It is an open-grid meaning that any spot on the grid may be filled or left empty.

• Play Area (User-sortable List)The Play Area is an initial starting point for all tiles. Tiles can be freely dragged and dropped in this area and is separate from The Grid. Its purpose is to allow a student an area for organizing his/her thoughts on the sub-patterns of a set.

• Tiles (Digital Cards)Any tile of a set can be dragged from its current location to either a spot on the Grid or to the Play Area.

Creating a Pattern• The user will be presented with a set of tiles that

start out in a separate area from the Grid, like a Play Area.

• They then will have the task of demonstrating the pattern that exists between the tiles.

Card 1 - Attribute Here

Card 3 – Attribute Here




Play Area

1 2

3 4







Selected Card Information

Results Submitted

After the application is used with any set of tiles, the results should be saved to a file and viewable in playback by another user.

Record and Playback

The movement of tiles from their current location to their destination needs to be tracked (logged) for later playback. This will allow another user (such as the professor) to analyze how a particular user (such as a student) came up with a pattern for a set.

Analysis Methods

Did Use – Contextual Inquiry

Our Goal was to bring about an understanding ofthe problem through discussing:

1. Current System2. Users3. Proposed System Features4. Scope5. Possible Expandability

Analysis Methods

6. Current System Observations (Demo, Hands-On)

7. Proposed System UI Discussion (Mockup)

Did Use – Contextual Inquiry

Will Use – Prototyping & Interviewing

Screen MockupsStartup Screen Popup Window

Card 1 - Attribute Here





Play Area

1 2

3 4







Selected Card Information

Questions?

nathan mikeska richard carney neil alfredson brian navarro

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