The LiteracyAccess Online Story by

1. The LiteracyAccess Online Story by Rob Parrott, Marcella Simon, Peter Huffer, Steve Arrington, Karen Raffel, Lisa J. Stedge George Mason UniversitySpring 2003

2. Search: Contact Us | Site Index | Logout

3. Once upon a time, in the faraway kingdom of Literacy, there lived a girl, Gertrude, and her mother. Gertrude had the dream of learning to read. Gertrude’s mother had heard legends of a magical castle in the faraway land of Cyberspace, built by a clever band of wizards, where children learned to read, helped by teachers and parents, and other kind adults.

4. So Gertrude and her mother set off in search of the magical castle. They first received the blessing and protection of Sir Michael of Behrmann, a Knight of the Order of Immersion, who told them to seek out the wisdom of those who have gone on the journey before. And so they set out on their quest.

5. Performance Analysis - PURPOSE • The purpose of our performance analysis is to address gaps in accessibility, usability, and functionality on the LAO site and make recommendations as to future steps in the research and design process.

6. PA - METHOD • The design team conducted interviews with clients and stakeholders, members of the intended audience, accessibility specialists, and past participants in the development process. • The team conducted a site analysis to: • pinpoint problems with the main features, Read from the Web, and StoryBuilder • 2) consider accessibility issues

7. PA - FOCUS ON ISSUES • The data collection indicated several possible areas for improvement, which included the following: • Accessibility (i.e., Section 508 compliance) • Availability of pre- and post- reading skills assessment tools • Functionality (i.e., navigation and usability)

8. PA - ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES • Our preliminary findings revealed that the past phases of LAO addressed the issue of accessibility and Section 508 compliance in the following ways: • Most images are labeled with ALT tags • A skip navigation link is available on all pages • Keyboard navigation is possible • Image map links are replicated as text-only links

9. PA - ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES • Areas for Further Focus: • Consistency/Accuracy of alt descriptions • Read from the Web (frames, images missing alt descriptions) • StoryBuilder (uses JavaScript) • Navigation bar (size of text, level of contrast in colors)

10. PA - ASSESSMENT ISSUES • LAO is funded in part by grants from the United States Department of Education • No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 means there must be greater accountability; science-based research to support further federal funding • So,…. We need to include some method of qualitative testing

11. PA - ASSESSMENT ISSUES • Inclusion of assessment features is predicated on four criteria: • Availability of online assessment resources • Affordability • Validity of the test • Compatibility with our site infrastructure

12. PA - FUNCTIONALITY ISSUES • Site Entry • Splash page tour does not allow for flexibility of options • No mention of StoryBuilder feature on tour • Registration and Login • “Group” classification could be confusing for a facilitator working with one child • Explanations of classifications and need for personal information are unclear

13. PA - FUNCTIONALITY ISSUES • Access to StoryBuilder and Read from the Web • StoryBuilder is not visible on first tier navigation or called by the name “StoryBuilder” • Usability of StoryBuilder • Difficult to submit pages or view a complete story • Usability of Read from the Web • Difficult to read instructions while using feature

14. PA - CONCLUSIONS • Need to remember that this robust site is the result of the hard work of previous teams • Need to collect more information (usability testing) regarding main features • Need to investigate further how to incorporate assessment features into the site • Need to targetedly redesign specific areas of the site based on usability results

15. One day, they met a group of wise men and women on the road who told them of a castle of wonders. They gave Gertrude a present, a magic mirror where she might see the children and adults within the castle and learn from their trials and triumphs as they journeyed its hallways and learned to read within its walls.

16. “You will be given three challenges,” the wise people told Gertrude. “When you have completed these challenges, all the knowledge and wisdom of the castle are yours.”

17. Usability Testing • Purpose • To “identify and rectify” usability deficiencies on the LiteracyAccess Online site • Who did we test? • Test subjects who approximated our personas • Dyads • Single-users

18. Usability Testing • Are end users able to successfully register to use the site in less than five minutes? • Are end users able to successfully navigate from the post-log-in screen to the initial StoryBuilder screen in a minimum of three clicks of the mouse? • Are end users able to successfully navigate from the post-log-in screen to the initial Read from the Web screen in a minimum of two clicks of the mouse? • Do end users take the entire site tour?

19. Usability Testing • Can end users of StoryBuilder create and publish a three-page story with an imported picture in less than ten minutes? • Can end users of the Read from the Web use the feature to navigate to web pages? • Do end users find the reading strategies useful? • What are the barriers to successful completion of assigned tasks?

20. Usability Testing – Results • StoryBuilder: Difficult to find (26 clicks!) • Read from the Web: BrowseAloud download not available from these pages • Login/Registration: Only 50% completed correctly • Site Tour: All users were forced to take this

21. Usability Testing – Recommendations • Login/Registration • Site Tour • StoryBuilder • Read from the Web • Additional Findings

22. After many days of journeying, Gertrude and her mother approached the castle gates. There were three tall gates of iron and a long drawbridge leading up to the castle. “However shall we enter,” cried Gertrude! “Remember the words of the wise people, my daughter,” counseled her mother. “This must be your first challenge, to discover the password that will open the one true gate, so that we may reach the castle.” Gertrude thought long and hard. “Literacy” she whispered, and one true gate swung open for them to enter...

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25. Combine and Redesign Old Splash Page Old Home Page New Home Page

26. Search: LiteracyAccess Online provides reading activities and resources for readers and helpers including: Contact Us | Site Index Login • StoryBuilder, where you can create stories, write reports, and save your work in your own account. • Read from the Web, where you can hear language • read out loud using a free download of BrowseAloud software and follow along, using our helpful tips and prompts. • Online reading assessments now available! • Register for Free | Enter as a Guest • Read about the benefits of registration. guest Username guest Password Sign-In Cancel Parent and Child Use StoryBuilder Need help? Take our site tour or use our friendly help feature seated on the books above. LiteracyAccess Online | Literacy Explorer | Facilitator Support | Communication | Explore Accessibility {back to top} NEW

27. Guest McFeeglebee Reader Story Search: Contact Us | Site Index | Logout We’re glad to have you as our guest. To find your way around the site, simply click where you would like to go on the main “stack of books” menu bar above. We encourage you to register for freeon the site. Read about the benefits of registration. If you need help at any time, feel free to take our site tour or use our friendly helpfeature. LiteracyAccess Online|Literacy Explorer |Facilitator Support |Communication|Explore Accessibility {back to top} NEW

28. Old Registration Process (9 steps) OLD

29. Basic I.D. Info. NEW Create User Profile Set Reader Account (4 steps) (5 steps) Create Group Create Reader Record Create Reader Record Welcome & Confirmation Welcome & Confirmation INDIVIDUAL GROUP

30. Search: Contact Us | Site Index | Logout Basic Information for Identification Purposes Note: All information is required, except “School Name.” Facilitator Type: First Name: Last Name: City: State: Zip Code: e-Mail: Phone Number: School Name: Select Type Select State NEW Type Your School Name Here Reset Continue LiteracyAccess Online|Literacy Explorer |Facilitator Support |Communication|Explore Accessibility {back to top}

31. Cynthia McFeeglebee Reader Story Search: Contact Us | Site Index | Logout Welcome Back, Andrew! Now you’re ready to work with Cynthia. Use the bar below to view your reader’s Portfolio or to update your current story name. If you need help at any time, feel free to take our site tour or use our friendly helpfeature. LiteracyAccess Online|Literacy Explorer |Facilitator Support |Communication|Explore Accessibility {back to top} NEW

32. Cynthia Phonics McFeeglebee Group Reader Story Search: Contact Us | Site Index | Logout Welcome Back, Andrew! Now you’re ready to work with Cynthia. To choose or add readers or groups, please visit the bar below. If you need help at any time, feel free to take our site tour or use our friendly helpfeature. LiteracyAccess Online|Literacy Explorer |Facilitator Support |Communication|Explore Accessibility {back to top} NEW

33. Redesign Read from Your Story Bank NEW

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37. Search: Contact Us | Site Index | Logout Literacy Explorer is a reading system designed to lead the reader and reading facilitator through a reading session. Literacy Explorer involves three steps – pre-reading, reading, and post-reading. We provide strategies, activities, resources and tips for each one of these steps. Literacy Explorer contains three reading activities designed to motivate readers by providing them with stimulating content at their reading level and in their areas of interest. StoryBuilder allows you to create a story, report, or essay using material from the World Wide Web or your own words. You can insert images and pictures in your story. Registered users can save their stories in your Story Bankto be read later and even publish their stories on the LAO site. Read from the Web provides you with the opportunity to choose material on the World Wide Web and read it together, using the tips, resources, and strategies shown on the page. If you download the free screen reader, BrowseAloud, you can listen to word pronunciation while you read. Read from the Bankallows you to choose a age level appropriate story from the Story Bank, either those we have provided or those you have created in StoryBuilder. NEW LiteracyAccess Online|Literacy Explorer |Facilitator Support |Communication|Explore Accessibility {back to top}

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39. Search: Enter your message here, including any questions, concerns, comments, or suggestions: Contact Us | Site Index | Logout If you would like a response to your message… Enter Your Name: Enter Your e-Mail Address: Which of the following describes you? How did you learn about our site? Select One NEW Select One Reset Send Site Administrator: Seunghun Ok at sok@gmu.edu Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities at George Mason University: 4400 University Drive, MS 1F2; Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Phone/TDD: 703-993-3670; Fax: 703-993-3681 LiteracyAccess Online|Literacy Explorer |Facilitator Support |Communication|Explore Accessibility {back to top}

40. Thanks for getting in touch with us. We hope to see you again in the near future. Search: Contact Us | Site Index | Logout LiteracyAccess Online|Literacy Explorer |Facilitator Support |Communication|Explore Accessibility NEW

41. The castle hall was enormous, with hallways and passageways leading in every direction. How will we ever find our way to the knowledge and wisdom within, wondered Gertrude, without a guide to show us the way? Out of nowhere, a castle sprite appeared.. “Do not be frightened,” she said in a soothing voice, “I am here to help you on your quest.” She pointed them to the correct passage...

42. Help • A “band-aid” solution • Based on the vision and mission of the Phase 6 team to highlight StoryBuilder and Read from the Web – a greater emphasis was placed on the functionality of the site, rather than the navigation • Based on usability testing, certain problem areas were identified, which led to the decision to add contextual help at the moment of need • Based on usability testing, it was clear that the Frequently Asked Questions did not fulfill the role of help

43. Old Help Menu: • Old Help: Help: • Frequently Asked Questions = Site Help • Organization tied to navigation • Actual available “help” not accessible through this menu OLD

44. Help NEW • Frequently Asked Questions a subcategory within Help • Organization tied to functionality – what the user is trying to do • All contextual help available through the main help menu • Contextual help highlighted within appropriate pages using an icon • Help separated out into smaller chunks

45. Help – Contextual NEW

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48. Site Tour • Based on Usability Testing: • Should not be part of site entry flow • Should not contain the site navigation without any active links • Less text, more screenshots • Focus on what the site does, not the navigation • Usefulness to be determined…

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