SCENARIO 1 click here for description of user actions
Structural Hierarchy: CS 3604 Home Page -> Professionalism Home Page -> All Assignments -> Written Homework Assignments
This hierarchy is an effective way to organize information.
But lots of hierarchical levels require that more clicks be made to access information. (GOMS)
But people use different hierarchies for different tasks, and different users may use different hierarchies for the same task.A List of All Assignments Having Links to More Detailed Information
This list will make the user aware of the fact that a variety of assignments influence their grade in the course.
Links leading to more detailed descriptions keep pages "clean" and enable users to follow appropriate paths.
But the names of links should be descriptive enough to indicate the information provided by a link.
But the pages "linked to" should have valid connections with their respective links. (For example, the "In-Class Project" link leads to information related to the course attendance policy; it's not clear whether this information actually relates to the in-class project or if this link terminates in the wrong place.)Use of Graphics
The use of graphics can make pages aesthetically pleasing.
But large pictures may take up the whole display area of low resolution monitors.
But it takes longer to load pages with graphics. (GOMS)
SCENARIO 2 click here for description of user actions
Ample Links in the Class Calendar
Links within the Class Calendar lead to notes, related readings, and homework due dates; this allows users to make this the information center of the site because users can access most of the other pages from this point.
But there are multiple links leading to the same place; this may result in confusion (e.g., In the week of 9/15, the "Speaking and Elocution" link and the "Class Notes in Reading Section" link lead to identical places.)Links in the Debate Calendar
These links enable the user to access the debate engine with one mouse click. (GOMS)
But seven links (listed in the "Debate Calendar" as the start dates of debates) point to the same place; this is confusing.A "Back to Home Page" Button
This allows the user to go back to the home page using one mouse click. (GOMS)
But such a button might take up too much space.
SCENARIO 3 click here for description of user actions
List of Main Items Early On
This gives the user a clear idea of what to expect.
A link under each item will make it faster for the user to access specific topics.
But the list may take up almost the entire screen before the user learns anything about an assignment.Multiple Links to the Same Page
Give users access to related information at multiple places.
Remind users to refer to other reference whenever they are needed.
But multiple links may result in "side tracking."
But sometimes the users consider them as simply references; they may skip over important information when the link is perceived as being insignificant.
SCENARIO 4 click here for description of user actions
One Slide on Each Page
Using a slide metaphor results in an experience similar to that achieved in class (i.e., the instructor shows one slide at a time). (Interface Metaphor)
But to see the next slide, the user must click a "Back" button and then click on a "next" link. If there was a "next" link in the slide page, this action could be simplified. (GOMS)
But there are nine links named "next," so users may lose track of the slide number that he/she wants to go to.Paper Broken into Five Parts (e.g., "An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents")
Each part of the paper has a reasonable scroll length.
"Next" links allow users to connect to subsequent sections of the paper.
But to get to former parts of the paper, users must click the "Back" button.
But to get to a specific part of the paper, users must know which part he/she is reading and click either the "Back" button or "next" link to go to the target part.
But at the end of the paper, there is no link back home; users must click the "Back" button six times.Side Bar Link in the Text
The linked page gives background or reference information for a specific part of the paper.
But links in the middle of the text may confuse users as to what to do next. The metaphor of reading on-line material as if it were presented on paper may be used, but no side bar capability is available with paper; therefore, background should be provided at the beginning and reference information should be provided at the end. (Interface Metaphor)
But reading the side bar whenever the user notices this option may lead to "side tracking"; users may lose the thread he/she is following. But links all scattered throughout the text are difficult to find at a later point in time.
SCENARIO 5 click here for description of user actions
List of Main Parts of Notes
Gives a clear structure to a given set of notes and can be used to separate the notes into four relatively independent parts.
There is a link under each item; this makes it faster for the user to go to separate topics.
But it might overwhelm the user if class notes appear to be complicated.List of Topics Grouped by Categories (using the Class Notes On Hacking as an example)
Gives the structure of the class and points out the main ideas.
The wording and layout looks like a combination of several slides into one page. (Interface Metaphor)
But the links scattered in the list break the metaphor. Users may track the link to the reference before having a complete idea of the topic.Various Links Named by Sentences, Names of People, or Just One Word
Lead to ample references related to a given topic.
But the names of the links should be descriptive enough so that users can predict what is included on the page being linked to. For example, the "What is a Hacker" link linked to a relatively lengthy paper, but the user might expect to find only a definition.
But users can't easily distinguish the links pointing to other sites from the links within the CS 3604 site. This might cause problems especially for users using slow network access methods (e.g., the "cracker programs" link).Multiple Links to the Same Page
Give users access to related information at multiple places.
Remind users to refer to other references whenever they are needed.
But this might confuse the user since it takes time for user to recognize that he/she has already read a given article.
But the names of the links emphasize different facets of the article; therefore, users may feel compelled to read the article several times.Significant Link Leads to a Page Outside the Site (using Notes on Security as an example)
This could integrate more information with ease.
But there's no warning about going to another site.
But it might slow down the network access for some users.Simple Single Sentence Requirement (using In-Class Project as an example)
It's clear.
But there are no guidelines about how to prepare and what to expect, especially when compared with the guidelines provided for writing assignments; it's a bit too simple.List of On-Line Reference
Enables users to track down additional references with ease.
But some references need a bit more description.
But the links need to be maintained.