24th Annual TCC | Online Conference | April 16-18, 2019

Sustainable Learning, Accessible Technologies, & Diverse Contexts

career planning

Usability Study of a Student-Centered Career Resource Website for Faculty and Staff

Session Description
What do you want to be when you grow up? That ten-word question resonates in the mind of a child. It is asked by an influencer such as a parent, coach, friend, mentor, and educator. More often than not University of Hawaiʻi Maui College (UHMC) campus support services and course instructors are approached by students unsure of their major or future career choice. It is okay to be uncertain, but time and money are considered a significant cost associated with these types of ambiguities.

The internet provides an abundance of career-related tools and resources, yet lacks streamlined access, campus-specific essentials, and cultural components. The purpose of this usability study was to evaluate a website of self-assessment tools and career-related resources for UHMC faculty and staff who actively assists students in career exploration, planning, and decision-making. Principles of instructional design and multimedia learning were incorporated during the website design and implementation process.

Following rounds one and two of usability testing, revisions were made to the prototype based on participant feedback. Adjustments contributed to decreased response times for seven of the nine total tasks completed during round three. Overall responses indicate positive results of the website design layout, navigation, ease of use, and effectiveness including the application of the website as a go-to resource tool. This session will discuss design, development and modification of the website, participant data, results of the usability study, and lessons learned.

Presenter(s)
Hōkū Hobbs
Hōkū Hobbs, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Waiehu, Hawaiʻi, USA
Hōkū grew up in Waiehu, Hawaiʻi. Upon receiving her B.S. in Recreation Management and minor in Sociology from Brigham Young University-Provo, she then completed an internship with the United States Navy at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. She credits her internship experience as the gateway to opportunities that lead to successful career paths dreamed about as a child. She also acknowledges the support received from family, hometown and transient communities for the encouragement to experience the world. Away for many years, she was thrilled to return home which she viewed as an opportunity to give back to the community who supported her. She is a third-year LTEC master’s student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa who actively assist Maui County and UH Maui College students’ with career exploration.
Session Type
20-Minute LTEC Student Session
Audience
All Audiences

A recording of this presentation is available.
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