Assessment for CDX Learning Systems (CDX Automotive/CDX Heavy Vehicle) by Centennial - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by bkahn@centenni… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: I can only find Search fields, no other forms. They all contain placeholder text that says Search or Search Courses, depending on the purpose of the search field. Because I have editing capabilities, there are other forms that can be filled out, and these have clear field labels.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Search fields just contain placeholder text. Because I have editing capabilities, there are other forms that can be filled out, and these have clear field labels.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: No coloured form control labels.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: A lot of the forms are for setting up new courses or students, so there are no error messages. I did get a message when I incorrectly entered an email address, but not every time I did it.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: It does underline mistakes in some contexts, but doesn't offer suggestions.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are consistent icons for notifications and for the messaging drawer (?) at the top of the screen. Chapters in courses vary - if they open in the current window, there are no icons. If they link out to an external website - when you click through, it opens another tab - those appear to have consistent icons. The ones that seem to link out to another website seem to be ones that are hidden from students.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: This site doesn't use many icons.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no consistent actions across the site. There is a header that has icons for notifications and chats as well as a dropdown list for account options. It also has a menu to choose between the three site options. That is consistent throughout the site.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: This site doesn't really use icons that much, and when it does, they're not connected to links.
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Each section is very different, but the header at the top is consistent throughout.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There is no site search field. There are search fields on a couple of different pages to search different areas - for example, there's a search field on the My courses page to search courses - but no universal site search.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: This website doesn't appear to have any of those features.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: This site doesn't have many of those components, except in the header, and they are consistent there.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are some documents indicated by a puzzle icon that open in a new tab. They appear to link out to a different database (Jones & Bartlett Learning). Otherwise, everything stays contained within the current window.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
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:
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are some documents indicated by a puzzle icon that open in a new tab. They appear to link out to a different database (Jones & Bartlett Learning). This is the only instance where a new tab is opened without a warning.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
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: CDX Learning Systems (CDX Automotive/CDX Heavy Vehicle)
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Other
Institution: Centennial
Score: B+

Key Findings

Strengths

  • Page content has appropriate headers and is tagged appropriately

Weaknesses

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is somewhat consistent across all pages
  • Some user input fields contain labels and clear instructions to help users successfully complete the form

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? Sometimes I can only find Search fields, no other forms. They all contain placeholder text that says Search or Search Courses, depending on the purpose of the search field. Because I have editing capabilities, there are other forms that can be filled out, and these have clear field labels.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes Search fields just contain placeholder text. Because I have editing capabilities, there are other forms that can be filled out, and these have clear field labels.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Never
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable No coloured form control labels.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Always

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always

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? Sometimes A lot of the forms are for setting up new courses or students, so there are no error messages. I did get a message when I incorrectly entered an email address, but not every time I did it.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Always
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Always

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 It does underline mistakes in some contexts, but doesn't offer suggestions.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Sometimes There are consistent icons for notifications and for the messaging drawer (?) at the top of the screen. Chapters in courses vary - if they open in the current window, there are no icons. If they link out to an external website - when you click through, it opens another tab - those appear to have consistent icons. The ones that seem to link out to another website seem to be ones that are hidden from students.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always This site doesn't use many icons.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Not Applicable There are no consistent actions across the site. There is a header that has icons for notifications and chats as well as a dropdown list for account options. It also has a menu to choose between the three site options. That is consistent throughout the site.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Not Applicable This site doesn't really use icons that much, and when it does, they're not connected to links.
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Always

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always Each section is very different, but the header at the top is consistent throughout.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Not Applicable There is no site search field. There are search fields on a couple of different pages to search different areas - for example, there's a search field on the My courses page to search courses - but no universal site search.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Not Applicable This website doesn't appear to have any of those features.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Not Applicable This site doesn't have many of those components, except in the header, and they are consistent there.

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? Sometimes There are some documents indicated by a puzzle icon that open in a new tab. They appear to link out to a different database (Jones & Bartlett Learning). Otherwise, everything stays contained within the current window.
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? Never
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
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? Sometimes There are some documents indicated by a puzzle icon that open in a new tab. They appear to link out to a different database (Jones & Bartlett Learning). This is the only instance where a new tab is opened without a warning.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never
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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