This is the second part of a conversation with researchers Andrea Gregg, Ph.D and Ronda Reid, PMP from Penn State.  You can find the first part in Episode 77. We discuss how they used the think-aloud method to watch and understand how users perceived and interacted with a new learning management system. Their study validates the benefits of using the think-aloud method in learning  experience design. It also demonstrates the notion that designers are not the same as the users. In this episode, I speak with them both about the value of usability testing in general and the think-aloud method specifically, to improve learning design.

Andrea Gregg, PhD, is the Director of Online Pedagogy and an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering at Penn State University. Ronda Reid is an IT project manager with Penn State IT's Project Management Office (PMO).

WE DISCUSS:

* Low budget think-aloud testing
* Analyzing the data from think-aloud research
* In-person testing versus remote
* Tips for doing an effective think-aloud usability test
* User experience design in the context of learning experience design
* Tasks to test when checking the usability of typical eLearning courses

TIME: 23 minutes

TRANSCRIPT: Download the [Download not found]

RESOURCES:

* Think-Aloud Observations to Improve Online Course Design: A Case Example and “How-to” Guide (Research discussed in this podcast)
* Don’t Make Me Think Revisited by Steve Krug
* Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug
* Learner and User Experience Research by Dr. Matthew Schmidt, Dr. Andrew Tawfik, Dr. Yvonne Earnshaw and Dr. Isa Jahnke
* Using the Think-Aloud Method to Test Usability of Learning Designs