Report from formal Drupal usability testing at the University of Minnesota Libraries

SESSION OVERVIEW
A preliminary report from the first round of formal usability testing of Drupal, conducted by the University of Minnesota Libraries February 26-28, 2008. This panel discussion will include several of the leading Drupal developers who took part in the testing. We’ll discuss key findings, interesting observations, and action items for improving Drupal.

TRACK
Design and User Experience

AGENDA

• Background on University of Minnesota Libraries use of Drupal and interest in Usability testing.
• An introduction to formal usability testing - the usability lab, persona development, scenario development.
• Highlights, key findings, TODOs - A discussion of those issues raised during testing that can easily be translated into action items for the Drupal usability and development community. The panel will present video and eye-tracking data from the usability testing.
• Overall impressions, surprises - Drupal developers who took part in the testing will discuss the more broad and abstract issues raised by usability testing that may inform Drupal development in the long term.

GOALS
This session will present to the Drupal community the results of the first formal usability test. By presenting the data and methodology we hope to help provide direction for future development, a baseline datapoint, and a repeatable process for ongoing usability tests.

BACKGROUND INFO
For more information on the background of this round of testing, watch the Usability Group.
To see the specific tasks we tested, see this post.