Assessment for ODESI by Fanshawe - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by a_thom@fanshawec.ca 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: Errors only came up with ones that were behind the style of the page. As far as I could tell, they were descriptive labels.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Have to click on it and click out, then it pops up saying it is required.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Does not have an asterisk, and only applies when you have missed filling it out, it will come up with red font.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Sent an email in the contact form by accident by adding random things and not a correct email. The system did not stop me as expected.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Will let you access the user input fields, but does not tell you the error fully, other than when boxes are necessary.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: Does not have other than required.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: Does not have other than required.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Yes, it appears to work for the icons.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: All of the links at the bottom for featured collections & guides pop up in a new tab. Same with when clicking on HTML. The links for the documents are downloads and so open in a new software window after downloading. I think this is what counts for the pop-up as most databases allow you to view things in the same 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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: A little unclear about the pop-ups as when opening some links does open a new page. If users do not click on these, they do not come up.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The new windows do have these options but they are greyed out as it is a new page.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: I believe this would count, adding filters to search after completed, you need to fill out the dates, etc. and then search again. But, you cannot change the sorting using keyboard navigation.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: Cannot find examples.
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: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: I am not fully sure of how to answer this one. As I tab through the page, it does move between all of the buttons and options. It scrolls through the page as well.
eResource: ODESI
eResource Type:
Vendor: Other
Institution: Fanshawe
Score: B+

Key Findings

Strengths

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is consistent across all pages
  • Page content has appropriate headers and is tagged appropriately

Weaknesses

  • 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? Always Errors only came up with ones that were behind the style of the page. As far as I could tell, they were descriptive labels.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Sometimes Have to click on it and click out, then it pops up saying it is required.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Sometimes Does not have an asterisk, and only applies when you have missed filling it out, it will come up with red font.

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? Never Sent an email in the contact form by accident by adding random things and not a correct email. The system did not stop me as expected.
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? Sometimes Will let you access the user input fields, but does not tell you the error fully, other than when boxes are necessary.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Not Applicable Does not have other than required.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Not Applicable Does not have other than required.

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

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? Sometimes Yes, it appears to work for the icons.
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? Always

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? Always
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? Sometimes All of the links at the bottom for featured collections & guides pop up in a new tab. Same with when clicking on HTML. The links for the documents are downloads and so open in a new software window after downloading. I think this is what counts for the pop-up as most databases allow you to view things in the same 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? Sometimes A little unclear about the pop-ups as when opening some links does open a new page. If users do not click on these, they do not come up.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Sometimes The new windows do have these options but they are greyed out as it is a new page.

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? Always
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Sometimes I believe this would count, adding filters to search after completed, you need to fill out the dates, etc. and then search again. But, you cannot change the sorting using keyboard navigation.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Not Applicable Cannot find examples.

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? Not Applicable I am not fully sure of how to answer this one. As I tab through the page, it does move between all of the buttons and options. It scrolls through the page as well.
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