A7: Ready for testing Team submission

In this assignment, we prepare for user testing by finalizing the development of our app functionality. We continue to apply design heuristics to create an intuitive interaction. We apply templates to streamline our code. We debug. We fit the mobile form factor, but we refrain from focusing on aesthetics so that user testing doesn't nullify any work we have done. We expand the functionality of our app, if possible. We assess our progress by updating our development plan. We address bias and consistency in conducting our user testing by composing a user testing plan. We decide on design choices that are best suited for user testing.

The following rubric items are independently assessed. In general, evaluation works such that if the student/team meets, for instance, 9 out of 10 rubric items, then they have earned a grade of 90%. The assignment will not be graded unless it is submitted on a single, well-formatted, and easily readable PDF.

Evaluation Rubric

Note: if you are a rare group of 2: pursue a dev plan that meets the rubric with a reasonable workload. If you are unable, you may propose an accommodation to this on Piazza; include a link to your dev plan.

    User Testing Plan
  1. A protocol describes the steps that an experimenter should take. This “Method” section should be sufficient for another experimenter to read and follow.
    2-3 sentences describing the tasks that participants should attempt. A task describes a goal, but not the steps to accomplish it. In most cases, these tasks will be similar to your user task in A6.
  2. Instructions describe how you will gain informed consent using this form and how your observations will be recorded
  3. Exact words that a facilitator will say to the testers to ensure consistency across all tests. Include a few detailed sentences why the instructions do not bias a user in one direction
  4. Three main research questions/design choices of interest in your testing. Write a few detailed sentences justifying why you are interested in your main testing questions and how you will answer them (Hint: see lecture 7)
  5. Three interview questions you will ask the testers as part of their debriefing
  6. Plan is less than 2 pages long

    7. Complete functionality
  7. Write a few detailed sentences assessing how ready your prototype is for user testing. If you used a different programming approach than in the labs, explain how you meet rubric items that assess code and functionality
  8. Write a few detailed sentences justifying the number of unique workflows or user tasks that your app supports
  9. Include Facebook login
  10. Import data from your JSON data file. We will search for require...json in your code (or require('mongodb').MongoClient for groups using MongoDB). Your pdf should list the file path of your JSON file (or .js file that connects to MongoDB)
  11. Use handlebars, e.g. #each loops, to template your app's pages, rather than duplicating code. We will search for "{{" in your code
  12. Utilize routes and jQuery selectors to asynchronously update your app's screens where appropriate. We will search for "$." and ".html" or ".append" in your code
  13. Prototype writes JSON data, which need not persist after node server restarts. We will search for ".put" or ".push" in your code
  14. In studio, we will verify that first-time users could go from screen to screen and know what functions they can perform
  15. We will test if your app is bug free and runs smoothly, so test on a separate machine/incognito mode
  16. We will review apps in Chrome’s mobile mode. Prototype should fit the mobile form factor on a contemporary smart phone (iPhone 7 or similar), and responsive mode in Chrome.
  17. Based on user tasks, your app has a justifiable number of unique workflows or user tasks that your app supports

    18. Development Plan
  18. A clickable or easily typed link, or a readable, properly oriented, and complete snapshot of your dev plan. Make sure the grader has access by the deadline. All tasks are actionable, prioritized, assigned an owner, and given a time estimate. In your comments column, identify tasks that were newly added. Includes a sum of the expected and actual number of hours for each teammate. Outliers should be justified

    19. Deployment and Code
  19. A clickable or easily typed link to your app of the form “a7-projectname.herokuapp.com”. A clickable or easily typed link to your project repository on GitHub. Make sure the grader has access by the deadline. If your app is changed before grading is completed, you will receive no credit for the assignment
  20. Add IxD teaching Heroku account ixd@ucsd.edu to your Heroku app as collaborator (Under “Access” tab in your app settings). Username: ixd@ucsd.edu. Invite: ixd@ucsd.edu

Examples

Here are some examples from prior years. Note assignments change from year to year, so use these examples as a reference, see where they succeed/breakdown, and make sure your final submissions adhere to the rubric for this year.

User Testing Plans: (1) (2)

Apps: (1)

App Demos (not required for this assignment): (1) (2)

Development plans: (1) (2) (3) (4)

Here is a cool video of the dynamic nature of implementation plans throughout the project.

Here are some examples of feedback that has previously been given on this assignment.