Assessment for Mindscape Commons by Centennial - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by dwong@centenni… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: User Input field says "Search for experiences..."
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: Placeholder text is in the search box, centred in a plain blue coloured box.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The Contact Us page has a form with no indicators for required fields. An error message with red font appears when the database sees that there are too many requests from the same email address. (Note that the assessor did not try to send a contact request to Mind Scape.)

Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: User input fields are reversible if mistake is made (can clear the the field and restart). Data is checked, and user will know if the data is input incorrectly (e.g, if a word was spelled incorrectly, there will be no results found). There is no mechanism to confirm before finalizing the search.
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: If there are no results produced by the search, an error message "No Results found".
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: The user can click in the field to re-enter their search words.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: If the search produces no results, the page will say "Results Not Found." Users can retype their search in the search box at the top.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: A blank screen appears when there are no results, with a "no results found" message.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: A message appears "No Results Found." The results will not offer spelling suggestions or Synonyms.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The link for the video is the title of the clip, but the purpose is not always determinable or clear from the link text alone.
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Search bar is in the middle on the main page, but the search bar moves to the top of the page on the results page.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Users can manually close the window if there is a pop up.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Very minimal number of drop-down menus, very minimal amount of links.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Results page opens in the same tab/window.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Results update automatically when filters are applied.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
eResource: Mindscape Commons
eResource Type:
Vendor: Trojman Corporation
Institution: Centennial
Score: A-

Labels and Instructions for Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form? Always
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes User Input field says "Search for experiences..."
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Not Applicable Placeholder text is in the search box, centred in a plain blue coloured box.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Never
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Sometimes The Contact Us page has a form with no indicators for required fields. An error message with red font appears when the database sees that there are too many requests from the same email address. (Note that the assessor did not try to send a contact request to Mind Scape.)

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Sometimes User input fields are reversible if mistake is made (can clear the the field and restart). Data is checked, and user will know if the data is input incorrectly (e.g, if a word was spelled incorrectly, there will be no results found). There is no mechanism to confirm before finalizing the search.

Error Reports

Question Answer Notes Images
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box? Always If there are no results produced by the search, an error message "No Results found".
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Never
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Not Applicable The user can click in the field to re-enter their search words.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Sometimes If the search produces no results, the page will say "Results Not Found." Users can retype their search in the search box at the top.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Not Applicable A blank screen appears when there are no results, with a "no results found" message.

Search function spell-check

Question Answer Notes Images
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms? Never A message appears "No Results Found." The results will not offer spelling suggestions or Synonyms.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Sometimes The link for the video is the title of the clip, but the purpose is not always determinable or clear from the link text alone.

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Sometimes Search bar is in the middle on the main page, but the search bar moves to the top of the page on the results page.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always

Pop-up windows/Interruptions

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button? Always
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Always Users can manually close the window if there is a pop up.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Always
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Always Very minimal number of drop-down menus, very minimal amount of links.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Always

Change of context

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning? Always Results page opens in the same tab/window.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never Results update automatically when filters are applied.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Always
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus? Always
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus? Always
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control? Always
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