Heuristic Evaluation - Mercer Canvas

  Heuristic Evaluation Ratings:

0 - No Usability Issue

1 - Cosmetic Issue

2 - Minor Usability Issue

3 - Major Usability Issue; Important to Fix

4 - Usability Catastrophe; Imperative to Fix 

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#1: Visibility of system status

Rating: 0

Canvas is a course management system that supports online learning and teaching.  It enables professors to online post grades, data, and assignments. All over the world, universities and colleges use it. This is the Mercer University Canvas home page. The student can dive into each individual class because it gives them all the information they need. I enjoy the color code for the different classes to keep the student on track with updates and assignments due dates. 

Improvements: N/A

#2: Match between system and the real world

Rating: 1

Students can view the various courses they are enrolled in on Canvas using an easily accessible tab.  Your target users will have a big impact on how you should design. You can look up previous courses you've taken and ones you've already finished in this tab. It is convenient for both students and professors that the classes are listed by their code names.

Improvements: These classes should be color-coded to maintain the home page standard and removed once the course is finished. 

#3: User control and freedom

Rating: 0

Students can keep track of upcoming assignments using the calendar. However, Canvas differs from a retail website in that it doesn't require specific information to move forward. In the event that a user makes a mistake while navigating the website, Canvas is understanding and permits them to go back and forth. This can be seen with the arrow buttons. 

Improvements: N/A

#4: Consistency and standards

Rating: 2

At Mercer University, Canvas gives professors the resources they need to standardize every online experience. Modules, grades, and announcements are visible here for each classroom. These tabs must be navigated by students in order to finish assignments and check their grades. One usability issue, though, is that students do not have a simple way to examine or access the assignment description or prerequisites when they are in the Grade Tab. The student will need to navigate to the module tab to see these requirements. 

Improvements: Create a link or modify the application so that students may access the grades tab and view what is displayed on the module side.

#5: Error prevention

Rating: 0

As it was previously mentioned, Canvas makes it simple for users to browse and undo activities. You may undo this using the search engine or by switching to the correct tab. 

Improvements: N/A

#6: Recognition rather than recall

Rating: 0

All assignments are linked to their potential due dates through the calendar tool. This gives the students the mental space they need to organize their thoughts for tasks and enables them to manage their time during their studies. This tool enables the student to look ahead later in the course to see when larger tasks are due. When the day has gone, the previous assignments are crossed off.

Improvements: I'm not sure whether this is available, but students could connect a Canvas Mobile App to their phones and get daily updates on future assignments. Give teachers the option to request discussion reminders for when students' initial conversations are due. Students are reminded to post comments on the discussion board via this.

#7: Flexibility and efficiency of use

Rating: 0

Both young and elderly individuals may readily access and utilize Canvas. They also provide services to help student navigate and understand the course management system. Users of Canvas can choose to receive daily updates through email.

Improvements: Adding a mobile app for users of Apple and Android devices.

#8: Aesthetic and minimalist design

Rating: 1

The student can dive into each individual class because it gives them all the information they need. I enjoy the color code for the different classes to keep the student on track with updates and assignments due dates. Students can view the various courses they are enrolled in on Canvas using an easily accessible tab.  In the event that a user makes a mistake while navigating the website, Canvas is understanding and permits them to go back and forth. This can be seen with the arrow buttons. This satisfies the design criteria for an effective user interface design.

Improvements: Give the User more customization features.