Assessment for Building Green by Sheridan - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by nira.persaud1@… 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: There were 4 orphaned form labels on the homepage site, and on each site visited there were repeated 2+ unlabelled form control issues
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are 2+ unlabelled form controls on the site pages that I assessed using WAVE
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: The only use input field was the "Contact Us" option in which the incomplete form prompted with the red coloured empty fields as well as a text prompt at the top of the field to amend the missing fields. This is a one page submission so there was no need for the "go back" option.
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: The alert messages are available via a dialog box at the top of the site page.
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: It read: Unable to send e-mail. Contact the site administrator if the problem persists.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There was no link to go directly back to the form submission page to correct the invalid/missing information.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: I had to submit a new form.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: Since the error reports were generic error messages there was no discernible order.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: A new page appeared with the incorrect submission followed by a suggestion as well as recommended search strategies.
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: There are at the very least 2 instances of missing alternative text for each web page reviewed which includes for the Building Green database title at the top of the page and for such icons as "loading more" and "CEUs available".
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: Not Applicable
Score: -1
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The layout is a vertical collection of resources that a Search feature that can be hovered over to enter search terms on the top right but other than that each linked resource may or may not have similarly presented information contacts and the content may be structured under linked images with many subtopics or as linked articles.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are similar features in each webpage such as the "Load more" and each feature article has the publication date, permalink and citatiion at the end of the article as well "add new content" and "send by email". The "explore the archives" option is infrequent.
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: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The screen reader is able to reflect what is on the webpage but the keyboard navigation only allows for very rudimentary up and down navigation around the sites.
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: 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: Building Green
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: BuildingGreen
Institution: Sheridan
Score: B+

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 There were 4 orphaned form labels on the homepage site, and on each site visited there were repeated 2+ unlabelled form control issues
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes There are 2+ unlabelled form controls on the site pages that I assessed using WAVE
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? Always
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 The only use input field was the "Contact Us" option in which the incomplete form prompted with the red coloured empty fields as well as a text prompt at the top of the field to amend the missing fields. This is a one page submission so there was no need for the "go back" option.

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 The alert messages are available via a dialog box at the top of the site page.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Never It read: Unable to send e-mail. Contact the site administrator if the problem persists.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Never There was no link to go directly back to the form submission page to correct the invalid/missing information.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Never I had to submit a new form.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Not Applicable Since the error reports were generic error messages there was no discernible order.

Search function spell-check

Question Answer Notes Images
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms? Always A new page appeared with the incorrect submission followed by a suggestion as well as recommended search strategies.

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 There are at the very least 2 instances of missing alternative text for each web page reviewed which includes for the Building Green database title at the top of the page and for such icons as "loading more" and "CEUs available".
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Not Applicable
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? Sometimes The layout is a vertical collection of resources that a Search feature that can be hovered over to enter search terms on the top right but other than that each linked resource may or may not have similarly presented information contacts and the content may be structured under linked images with many subtopics or as linked articles.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Sometimes There are similar features in each webpage such as the "Load more" and each feature article has the publication date, permalink and citatiion at the end of the article as well "add new content" and "send by email". The "explore the archives" option is infrequent.
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? Not Applicable
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Not Applicable

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? Sometimes The screen reader is able to reflect what is on the webpage but the keyboard navigation only allows for very rudimentary up and down navigation around the sites.

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? 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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