Usability Testing & Reflection

I conducted usability testing on my course’s Introduction/Start Here section and the first Module 1 activity. The goal of this testing was to identify any navigation issues, unclear instructions, or other areas that could be improved to enhance the overall learner experience before the course officially launches.

Who Tested My Course

For this usability testing, I asked my sister, Victoria Burton, to participate. She is a former Lamar student with a Masters in Digital Technology. Following this she has completed her Doctorate and teaches online. She is familiar with online learning platforms, making her an ideal tester. She closely represents the target learner profile for my course and was able to provide authentic, user‑focused feedback that reflects the perspective of someone who would realistically engage with the content.

Key Feedback From Testing

During testing, Mrs. Burton provided detailed feedback that led to several important changes. She suggested updating the title and spelling out ‘social emotional learning’ in full to make it clearer for learners. She also pointed out that some of my video links were only search links, so I replaced them with direct links. In addition, she noticed I had included an extra feeling tracker from Mightier without enough information to support it—since there were already two feeling trackers in the course, I removed the additional one. Finally, she recommended adding a clear calming‑strategies dialogue, so I included examples for teachers.

Revisions I made

For my initial reflection, I decided to reframe it as a question to make it more engaging for learners. Throughout the course, I also made sure to write out “social emotional learning” instead of just using the acronym “SEL,” as I realized not all learners might be familiar with it. In addition, I included the word “App” when referring to Mightier to provide clearer context. Finally, I reviewed some parts I had added at the last minute without much explanation and removed them, as I realized my class functioned well without those extra elements.

Lessons Learned

This process showed me how much clarity and intentional design shape a strong learning experience. Rewriting my initial reflection as a question, spelling out “social emotional learning,” and adding “App” when referring to Mightier all made the content clearer and more accessible. I also learned that not every idea needs to stay—removing last‑minute additions without context helped keep the course focused. Overall, even small, thoughtful revisions can make a big difference in how well a course supports and engages learners.

Impact on Learners

These revisions create a clearer and more engaging experience for learners. Writing out ‘social emotional learning’ helps ensure all students understand the terminology, and replacing search links with direct video links allows them to access resources quickly without confusion. Removing the extra feeling tracker reduces clutter and keeps the focus on tools that are fully supported and easy to use. Adding a calming‑strategies dialogue gives students concrete examples to follow and encourages them to actively share their own strategies, fostering deeper reflection and participation. Overall, these changes make the course more organized, accessible, and meaningful for learners

Video and Supporting Resources

In this section, I embedded my usability testing video, which walks through the feedback I received and the revisions I made. I also included links and screenshots of the updated course sections so viewers can see the improvements in context. Additionally, I attached notes and documents from my tester’s feedback below as optional resources for anyone who wants to review the details more closely.

Feedback

Victoria Burton's Feedback and Review

During the usability testing, my sister provided thoughtful and practical feedback that highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement in my course. She shared that the overall layout and flow felt easy to follow, which gave her confidence in moving through the content. However, she noted that navigating back to the “Start Here” section after entering other modules was not as straightforward as it could be. This made her feel that learners might lose their sense of orientation, so she recommended adding clear navigation buttons or links throughout the course to make returning to key sections simple and intuitive.

She also offered specific feedback on the Module 1 activity, explaining that while the task itself was valuable, the instructions could be clearer. A first‑time learner might not immediately know how to begin or what steps to follow. She suggested breaking the activity down into smaller steps or providing a quick example to guide learners through the process. In addition, one of the reflection prompts stood out as being too long and potentially overwhelming, which could discourage thoughtful responses. She recommended shortening and rewording it into a simpler, more approachable format that still encourages deep engagement.

Overall, she expressed that the course felt well thought out and accessible. She appreciated changes such as spelling out “social emotional learning” instead of only using the acronym “SEL,” and adding the word “App” when referring to Mightier for clarity. She also pointed out that some last‑minute additions, which lacked context, could be removed to keep the course more focused and streamlined. Her review reinforced the importance of making small but intentional revisions—like clarifying instructions, simplifying prompts, and refining content—which collectively create a smoother, more user‑friendly experience for learners.