The Usability Lab provides actionable feedback to instructors on ways to improve the navigability of their Canvas course sites using data gathered from usability and eye tracking testing. To schedule a service consultation or learn more about the Usability Lab, please contact Lauren Johnson, our User Experience Librarian, at lauren.johnson@nevadastate.edu or (702) 992-2802.
Usability testing is a common assessment method used to determine (1) how easy a website is to use and (2) what improvements might make the website more accessible and intuitive to a greater number of users. Eye tracking allows you to see what a user navigating a website sees—and what they don’t—while using a website.
In the video below, you can see how students navigated a Canvas course homepage to find where they needed to go to get started with the course:
Video description:
This video captures five students participating in a usability test. Each student was asked to complete the following task: “You just signed up for your course! Use the course’s Canvas page to find out how to begin the course.” Using eye-tracking technology, the video reveals a common pattern: none of the students noticed the “Watch Here First” video, which was positioned near the bottom of the Canvas homepage. This suggests that the video needs to be placed elsewhere to get the students’ attention.
The footage highlights how usability testing can uncover critical design issues, like placement and visibility, that directly impact how students engage with course materials. These types of insights and more can be revealed through usability testing. To get started, all you need to do is schedule a short 30 minute consultation.