How to test a mobile device
- Transcript: How to test a mobile device (MS Word, 12 KB, 1 page, August 2012)
First Fridays Hallway Test
First Fridays Product Testing Program (a.k.a. GSA First Fridays) is a usability testing and education program that focuses exclusively on federal government websites. We've tested more than 37 federal sites to date, including IRS, Census, USAJOBS, and the Department of Transportation.
Schedule of Upcoming First Fridays Tests
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 19, 2012, from 8:30 AM–1:30 PM ET
Contact: First Fridays to volunteer as a test participant or observer
First Fridays Product Testing Program is a twice-monthly demonstration project aimed at teaching agency staff how to find and fix usability problems on government websites and applications. We test on the first Friday and third Wednesday of every month.
During a four-hour session, GSA asks three recruited participants to perform 35 minutes of tasks on the test website. Site stakeholders observe the participants doing the tasks from another room. After the test, the observers debrief over lunch and identify the three most serious problems and quick-fix solutions to be completed within 30 days. We send site stakeholders a short report and test recordings, and we follow up with them 2-3 weeks after the test. Agency employees may sign up for facilitator training.
First Fridays is based on "discount" usability testing supported by industry leaders, including Steve Krug in his latest book, Rocket Surgery Made Easy.
Schedule of First Friday Product Testing
First Fridays provides the following kinds of usability testing services:
After you’ve had an opportunity to observe a First Fridays Product test, come learn how to facilitate your own tests. We’re offering this unique training opportunity for you to learn how to offer this simple production testing at your agency. The Facilitator-in-Training process takes about 3 months and includes four sessions of increasing responsibility in facilitating.
Format: Four sessions of facilitator training
Date: The first Friday of every month and the third Wednesday of every month
Time: Each session lasts from 8:00 am-1:30 pm (including time spent on pre-facilitation preparation)
Cost: Free
Prerequisite: Attend a First Fridays Test and participate in observation and debriefing
The Training Process:
Contact First Fridays to sign up for this training
Hallway Testing Resources
Content Lead:
Jonathan Rubin
Page Reviewed/Updated: August 16, 2012