Map Usability Testing

For the map user feedback subphase, I visited the library and walked around to look for individuals who appeared to be new to the space. I approached them and asked if they would be willing to use the map and share their feedback. I was able to find five (5) participants who agreed to take part.

I had some conversations with them. One participant noted that she didn’t even know there was a restroom in the library and mentioned that she had been looking for one every time she came to study. Another participant said she didn’t know that there were study tables available, as they are somewhat hidden behind the bookcases. She expressed that with the help of the map, she would now be able to make better use of the library’s facilities.

In their responses to the feedback form, the participants gave highly positive ratings across all aspects of the map. Some of their suggestions included labeling the entrance doors clearly to make the orientation of the map easier to understand, and expanding the bookstore section on the map to reflect more accurately its location on the lower level.

From this subphase, I realized how valuable it is to engage and have conversations with your intended learners. In this case, I saw that it benefitted the project in two (2) key ways. 

First, it gave the project more meaningful input. I was able to gather feedback that was grounded in actual user experience, not just assumptions or theoretical considerations. This feedback could directly inform the subsequent iteration of the map to ensure it is more intuitive and useful. That way, once implementation comes, the material is already refined and is more likely to meet learners' needs.

Second, it gave me the motivation and inspiration to pursue the project and improve the output further, as I was able to see firsthand how much of a difference it can make for the users. I realized that it’s not just a matter of whether they’ll be able to find a book they want to browse leisurely, but also a matter of whether they’ll be able to access essential facilities like restrooms and emergency exits.

One minor problem I experienced during this subphase was feeling a bit shy or hesitant to approach patrons and ask them to participate out of the blue. I was worried that they might find the request intrusive or that they would not be interested in participating.

To resolve this, I started by having casual conversations with them by asking how they were doing, if they were new to the library, or what they were looking for. Once I was able to build a friendly connection, I then introduced the project and asked if they would be willing to help by using the map and giving feedback. This approach helped ease the interaction for both me and the participants and made their feedback more genuine and thoughtful, as they felt more comfortable sharing their honest opinions.

The strength in how this subphase was conducted lies in the personal engagement with actual users of the map. By approaching individuals who were likely unfamiliar with the library, I was able to gather experience-based feedback that truly reflected how first-time or infrequent users interact with the space. This provided insights that would not have been captured through expert review alone.

The weakness, on the other hand, was the small sample size. There weren’t a lot of people in the library during the time I visited, it was a slow day, so I was only able to recruit five (5) participants. While sufficient valuable feedback is gathered, a larger and more diverse sample would have helped generate a broader range of insights.

For the success of the succeeding phase, particularly implementation, it is recommended that the same approach used when engaging with participants be continued. Build rapport with users before asking them for feedback to establish a more comfortable and genuine exchange.

For future work as an instructional designer, apply the communication skills learned in this subphase and try to aim for a bigger sample size whenever possible to make sure that feedback comes from a more diverse group of users.