Prototypes
As a result of our focus groups and online survey, we proposed 3 concepts to test as interactive prototypes. Our initial prototype testing was done remotely using Skype and a desk-top sharing facility (Unyte). Our final phase of prototype testing will be conducted face-to-face.
Interviews were conducted before testing, here are some brief findings:
- People often get to the JISC website by following links from other places.
- Typical things they come directly to the website for are: getting up to speed in a particular topic, finding a specific publication or checking funding opportunities
- The JISC site is the first place to go for News and Events
- They wanted more ‘push’ of relevant content in advance and audience specific communication
- They wanted more user-friendly language and labelling throughout the site
- They wanted less text and more multimedia
Here’s how our 3 prototype concepts went down in the initial round of prototype testing:
Microsite concept
This concept proposes a separate tailored mini-website for a specific audience (i.e. one for Librarians, one for e-Learning etc.)
This tested as the 2nd favourite concept.
Users appreciated the authoritative view of what JISC thinks is relevant to someone in their role. However, they were concerned that if they started just using the microsite they would miss out on interesting but ‘not related’ content
iGoogle / BBC style filter concept
In this concept, users are able to personalise their JISC homepage using widgets (i.e. a news widget, an events widget) in the style of i-Google or the BBC homepage.
This tested as the most popular concept.
First impressions were that this was useful, innovative and appropriate for JISC. Users liked the balance between authority (JISC’s authoritative view of suggested selection of content) and autonomy (selecting their information view)
Full Filter concept
In this concept users would filter the content that is shown throughout the entire site, not just the homepage.
This was the least popular concept.
The first impression was that this was dangerous. Users felt that filtering gave them too much power and they risked missing information.
Next steps
As a result of the remote-testing, we’re developing the BBC/iGoogle concept. This will be fine-tuned in face-to-face user testing.
Online surveys now launched
As part our continuing research to find out about the goals, needs and behaviors of our target groups, we’ve now put together 3 online surveys. If you fall into one of these categories, we’d be really grateful if you could help us out by spending 15 minutes or so completing the survey.
- Survey for librarians and information professionals
- Survey for e-learning and learning technologists
- Survey for IT, computing and information systems professionals
The surveys run until 23rd May.Thanks for your help.
Welcome to the JISC Audience Experts Panel blog
As part of our continual review of the JISC website, we are considering tailoring our content to specific communities. This will have the benefit of providing easy access to key information and resources.
The broad goal of the Audience Experts Panel is bring together regular users of the JISC website to help us identify the key tasks and information needs of three communities:
- (Digital) Librarian / Information Professional / Repositories
- e-Learning / ILT / Learning Technologists
- IT / Computing / Information Systems