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- Learnability: This interface is very learnable -- most of the pages follow the same three-pane layout. Even within a page, the hierarchical options are consistent -- the user can deduce what the other options do based on the current option. Mac users will instinctively grasp the keyboard shortcuts that we plan to include (arrow keys to move around problem sets and users, enter to toggle edit mode -- with corresponding visual feedback). Other users will likely try to use the keyboard, we speculate, as it’s very universal and established (even Norton Commander used something similar back in the days of DOS).
- Visibility: The state of the system is always visible to the user, because all of the components of the state are on screen: the three panes present the choices of assignment and student, as well as the information about the item corresponding to that combination. All of the features are always visible within one page. The user is able to explore one assignment and can see that he or she has access to the other assignments. Similarly, when grading, all of the other people in the class are visible to the TA. The currently selected set of options is highlighted with a color, as shown in the sketches. Visual feedback will be available for the keyboard shortcuts to indicate, for example, entering edit mode. The menu items on the left side offer information scent about when they should be clicked -- for example, the “Assignments and Grades” link receives a (1) when there’s one new problem set available.
- Efficiency: TAs can quickly transition between students when grading. Students can in turn quickly explore all of their assignment submissions and grades. In addition, students and TAs can see the submission status via intuitive colors -- the student's name is highlighted with green for submitted, white for not submitted, yellow for late, and red for not submitted. All of the options are aligned, so that the user can explore. This interface lends itself naturally to keyboard shortcuts like in the Mac's Finder. These shortcuts can greatly increase efficiency for grading, for example.
- Errors: Errors can be easily undone in this interface. If a grade was mistyped, then the user can simply retype the correct one. If the wrong file was submitted for an assignment, the student can simply overwrite the old file with a new one. In addition, we will enforce constraints such as forcing grades to be less than or equal to the maximum grade, with an alert being displayed if they're not.
Design 2
The top level of the interface is divided into three tabs - calendar, profile, and classes. The calendar view shows the class schedule and problem set deadlines. The profile page displays users' basic information and class registration information. At registration time, each user indicates whether they’re a student or part of the class’ teaching staff. The class view is divided into two tabs: problem sets and grades. The information under the class tab is further divided into lower-level tabs. The views on problem sets, grades, and students present their information using tables.