Admin Help: User Testing scenarios

For the user testing last week, we had the users go through a series of simple tasks. For the purpose of helping get a user case in mind for the admin help, here are the tasks we had these folks go through. The videos are here and here.

Mindset

The users were asked to have a particular frame of mind to use as a base for going through the tasks. This is what we gave them:

You have just set up your first WordPress website – go you! Now that you’re set up, you want to get straight to customizing and using your website. You’re going to do some basic tasks in the administration panel. If you get confused please feel free to look for help both in the admin and elsewhere.

Task 1

The first task was just to move the recorder out of the way because it covered the top left of the screen. We’ll skip that and move on to…

Task 2

Log in.
That’s pretty obvious, too, so…

Task 3

You want to change the design of your website. Find the menu item that lets you do that and choose a new design (use the help in the admin or on other sites on the internet to if you need help to do this).

When you have found a design that you like, preview it, and activate it on your website. View the front page of your website.

Task 4

Next, add a blog post. Find the menu item that lets you do that and click it. Add a title and some text to your blog post, and add an image. When you’re done, publish your post and view it on the front end.

Task 5

Return to the admin of your website. Your website has a sidebarSidebar A sidebar in WordPress is referred to a widget-ready area used by WordPress themes to display information that is not a part of the main content. It is not always a vertical column on the side. It can be a horizontal rectangle below or above the content area, footer, header, or any where in the theme. and you want to add a calendar of your blog posts to it. Find the menu item that allows you to do this and add a calendar. (use the help in the admin or on other sites on the internet to if you need help to do this). When you’re done, save and view it on the front end.

The users were also asked some questions after they completed the tasks. For posterity, here are the questions we gave them:

What frustrated you most about using the interface?

How can we improve the interface to make it easier for you?

Were you able to find all of the help that you needed?

What additional help would you have found useful?

#3-8, #admin-help