Betsy,

What you're looking for is the field of "usability studies" (See The Usable
Web http://www.usableweb.com)  

Jakob Nielsen (Designing Web Usability) is just on of many folks out there
advocating for simple clear design that is based on people's responses and
ability to accomplish tasks.  Nielsen recommends testing designs with groups
of users to work out problems in the design. Many of Nielsen's writings are
also available online at http://www.alertbox.com

Nielsen also addresses the need to write differently for the web as reading
on-screen is very different than on paper.  There are also a number of other
web sites that offer "writing for the web" tutorials as well.

Our colleagues in the library sciences are also working on the issue, see
http://www.lita.org/litapubs/lg7.html

Richard Urban
Web-site Coordinator
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
1300 Locust St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107

[log in to unmask]
www.hsp.org

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Betsy Price
> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 3:41 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: A ? about exhibits and web interactives
> 
> 
> Hi All:
> 
> I am working on a team of evaluators for a web-based textbook.  It is
> an entire curriculum package of a greatly reduced textbook, wet labs,
> and a huge website with interactives.
> 
> My question comes from my observations of students and teachers using
> the interactive pages on the website.  Students and teachers are
> reacting to the website activities like a visitor to an exhibit.  For
> example students will click until they can get something to move
> before reading about the activity. If nothing moves, they will assume
> it is “broken” and move on.  Another example is that the most
> successful text is designed similar to exhibit labeling.
> 
> Does anyone have any ideas who may have written a paper or noticed
> anything similar?  Any suggestions?
> 
> Betsy
> 
> 
> Betsy Price                      801-596-2619
> SciEd Consultants                801-230-3031 cell
> 853 Northcliffe                  [log in to unmask]
> Salt Lake City, UT 84103         [log in to unmask]
> 
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