Basics of Design Testing (openSAP)

This free online course focuses on design testing, also known as user testing, usability testing, user acceptance testing, validation, among other terms. You’ll learn about the importance of testing your software designs with real users and implementing their feedback early in the design phase.

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Learn how to test your designs and design ideas with feedback from potential users. This course, taught by design research experts from SAP, introduces all the steps, from planning a test through moderating it, with a special focus on asking good questions and taking proper notes. You will also learn how to analyze the notes you collected to iterate your designs.

In This Course You Will:

- Understand when to test your design to get the most impact

- Discover more about the logistics of planning and running a test

- Learn how to select the right people to give feedback

- Learn how to design good questions and elicit useful feedback

- Understand how to include team members as note-takers and observers

- Learn how to analyze your notes and pick the top issues to fix in your designs

Course Structure:

Each class is designed to support your learning

- Video Lectures – Design practitioners present topics with real-world examples

- Check Points – Short assignments help you assess your understanding of the lectures

- Hands-On Exercises – Small, manageable exercises related to and extending the class topics, to be completed individually or in collaboration with your fellow participants.

- Peer Assessment – This course contains a design testing challenge in which you’ll submit your work and evaluate your peers. For this task, you can earn points towards a record of achievement as well.

- Further Reading and Resources – Links to additional materials as well as domain experts.

Throughout the course, you’ll receive points for weekly challenges. When you’ve completed the course, you’ll receive a document confirming that you took part in it.

Course Content

Week 1 – Introduction to the Course

Meet the teaching team; get an overview of design testing, key terms, and roles.

Week 2 – Preparing a Test

Get ready for a test session; plan logistics, design good test tasks, recruit test participants.

Week 3 – Moderating a Test

Run a test session; learn how to put test participants at ease and elicit useful feedback from them.

Week 4 – Taking Notes

Prepare to take notes, take notes during a test session.

Week 5 – Analyzing Notes

Summarize your notes, find the top issues, learn how to iterate to fix the issues.