Design implications from a usability study of GramStain-Tutor (TM)

To examine interface issues in an educational software program, we recruite d twenty-two users in health sciences departments for a usability study, Us ing the GramStain-Tutor (TM) (GST) CD-ROM, these users performed tasks in n avigating the program and using various interactive features. Their actions and comments were recorded with a digital video recorder and an audio reco rder. The main results of our study are: (a) the majority of the users did not use the multiple navigational options available in the program; (b) nav igational patterns differed based on the training background and content kn owledge of the users; (c) several visual cues critical to program use were not discovered by the majority of the users; and (d) icons representing spe cific functions were not intuitive from users' perspectives. We demonstrate d how a usability study of a relatively small number of users can identify specific problems in interface design. We recommend these interface problem s be addressed before conducting educational studies that examine how educa tional software programs affect student learning.