Designing for Early Release of Interactive Multimedia - the Value of Early End-User Testing and Evaluation in Designing Interactive Multimedia

Anne Strehler, University of Pretoria, South Africa

ABSTRACT:

Interactive multimedia development is time-consuming and expensive. Instructional design theories outline processes of varying length. These processes include prototyping and evaluation. Prototyping involves development of a representation of the final product. Newer instructional design theories discuss the value of rapid prototyping. The paper outlines some of the debate in this regard. The design and development strategy implemented at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria, South Africa was reviewed during 2001 - 2002. The small design team, faced with enormous demands for multimedia development, of varying complexity, decided to change the process of development.

Rapid prototyping is viewed as more than just the fast design of a skeleton, which will provide an idea of the final product. This paper looks at some of the issues, which relate to such prototyping and how the design unit manages the challenge. Another change in the way multimedia projects are approached is the implementation of early end-user evaluation. The evolution of the instrument is discussed. Early end-user evaluation has been extremely valuable and both the developer and the client’s need are being met. The paper will briefly outline the issues addressed in this end-user evaluation, and finally it will look at the emerging theme across several multimedia projects.

BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:

This paper will provide opportunity for developers to consider, discuss, and debate some of the issues in the design field. Small design units, faced with heavy workloads and demands from clients for speedy delivery will benefit from the presentation and discussion. The presentation will also provide opportunity to reflect on the theoretical underpinnings of the instructional design field.

Anne Strehler

Department of Telematic Learning and Education Innovation

University of Pretoria

Pretoria 0001

South Africa

Phone: +27 12 420-4749

Fax: +27 12 420-4054

Email: mailto:astrehler@postino.up.ac.za

Website: http://www.up.ac.za/telematic