Make Your Online Course Journey Frustration-Free
Have you ever been driving down the road with someone and they point out a building you have passed a thousand times but never noticed? Had someone look at your website and they noticed that there is a big blank section for no reason other than you just didn’t see it while you were editing?
The same thing can happen when you build a course. You’ll have spent so much time creating it that you may not realize the flow is a little off. Or that video stops in the middle of a sentence or looks a little blurry. Or your worksheet downloads but you can’t type on it.
Here’s a way to get a quick win to improve your online course. Put it through some usability testing! (That’s just a fancy way of saying let’s do some testing to make sure everything works and looks good!)
Having a few testers take your course for a spin can bring to light issues and sticky points you never realized were there. And making fixes based on real user feedback can significantly improve the learner experience.
Good news - you don't need fancy equipment or software.
Here are easy methods to try:
Observation Tests for Usability
Literally, look over someone's shoulder as they navigate your course. I know that this may be hard when you are creating an online course but think outside the box. Do you have a family member or friend who could come over and walk through it on your computer? Or you could set up a Zoom and have them share their screen so you can see where they are clicking.
Don't guide or interrupt. Just observe and take notes on where they struggle or get confused. Do they find the navigation confusing? Click incorrect buttons? You'll collect valuable insights into pain points. And you may be surprised by what they miss and what they focus on instead.
Think Aloud Tests
As the name suggests, ask testers to tell you their thoughts as they click through your course. What first impressions do they have? How do they decide what to do next? You'll hear unfiltered reactions.
With this test in particular, it’s important to find someone who understands your business (like a biz bestie) or is one of your target clients. You want someone who will point out the important things and not distract you by focusing on things that aren’t as important for your end user.
We all have opinions about fonts, colors, etc. but what you are really looking for is feedback if the font is too hard to read, the colors are harsh or distracting. Information like that is helpful. You also want to know if there are sections that go too fast or have too much information that feels overwhelming. Do your worksheets and guides support your lessons or add confusion?
Task Scenario Tests
Give testers specific tasks and scenarios, like "enroll in this course" or "find the homework for week 3". See if the layout and instructions guide them properly. You'll identify any navigation issues.
You can also use this test to help create some of your FAQs. From past experience or past testing, you want to make sure you can answer questions before they are even asked.
This is also great for creating your introduction and guide for the course. Be sure to tell them that they have to click continue to see the next section or that the sound is off by default and then show them where they can turn it on. Little tips like that can really help keep your students moving forward instead of getting stuck and frustrated. Don’t give them a reason to want to stop and not come back.
Getting a few trusted testers to take your course for a whirl will highlight anything you’ve missed and help you make easy fixes that’ll make your learners’ experiences much better.
Now you can see that usability tests aren’t as hard to do as they initially sound. Some tips for easy and effective usability testing:
Recruit 2-3 testers that match your target audience
Set up tests before your full launch to find out where people may get stuck or confused
Fix issues quickly based on the feedback