Subject Selection
Subject selection was based upon the fact that since I face this particular group of students for almost 70 hours in one semester I found that it would be interesting to see what they thought of both transits. I use both a David White and a Berger builder's transit. These are two prominent transit companies, one (David White) of which is made in our proud state of Wisconsin.
Subject Introduction to Usability Survey As a means of assignment, I sent my students home to answer questions of what was a usability survey on the web (located at www.angelfire.com/wi/martin1/survey.html) concerning these two surveying instruments. The students went home and after some coaxing (some zeros sadly given as well) they finished the survey just today, October 4th. It was as fast as I could get to this portion of my Construction Technology course and have no qualms about being slow.
Methodology My methodology was to point out to the students my url and to explain what I was trying to do for the BSU course. Students seemed interested in that their input would help. I didn't ask them to be honest because what that tends to do is almost dare them to goof around. I want this to be a serious look at what transit students liked the best in terms of all features used. And while it appeared clear at the beginning of the survey which was best, that clarity was mired in responses that left me pondering.
Subject Demographics The subjects are as follows:
18 caucasian students who mostly (over 70%) come from agrarian backgrounds, so they have some concepts of Construction, or in some cases some ill notions that Construction is just 'building'.
2 females 16 males
Grade point averages from 0.8 to 3.7 on the 4.0 scale, reading levels which span the gammet. I think this is important since surveying can be detail work, work which the slower students simply never get to because they only (if they do) get the basics.
ObservationsWhile I didn't get to see my students take the survey, I did absorb a great deal of comments in the field where students worked on each transit. I kept in the back of my mind some general thoughts on both transits.
Question 1 asked which of the two transits the students liked best. This is quite a premature question since all the students have done with them was set them up. The David White with is non-locking tripod legs and easy transit setup made it the convincing choice. However, as time has gone on, student's opinions have changed. It seems that when reading and recording measurements for degree and venier scales that the Berger has an advantage in that to the students its easier to read. Each question has some observations which need further explanation.
The second question dealt with set up of the transits in any condition I could provide. Since I haven't had them do a great deal of setting up, this isn't as accurate as what it could be. I'm anticipating that no one will answer "c", which is being unable to set up the transit anywhere and should see a few more "d"'s which meant an answer stating that they could set up a transit on nearly any surface.
Question three dealt with being able to determine and subsequently read a transit's degree and venier scales. While I have observed hearing students perfer the Berger over the David White, the survey's results prove otherwise. Students have a difficult time at this point determining exact degree and minute. That again I think will work itself out with more practice and exposure to the transit.
Question four dealt with manueverability and I was very encouraged by this and a little confused. While I was happy to see that many of my students could move the transit with ease, I think that they misinterpreted the question or that I wrote an innapropriate inquiry. Students have not moved the transit around as I believe they think they have. They have moved the transit in its case, but not as one surveying unit. A little clarification would have changed this answer and I believe would have given me a greater idea of how well they felt handling each instrument.Question five asked about using the brass thumbscrews and whether these made for establishing level any easier. While I wish that so many of my students were telling me the truth that they can handle both transits, I know for sure that isn't the case. Some students I know have not used both transits. A little input error.
Before students were asked for their own input, they were posed with which transit they found better at sighting in. To sight in takes some practice. Its something like using a binoculars, but takes a little more skill. Students with sight problems may find focusing into the small vial a little daunting. While currently, students are doing well, I see some (with glasses or contacts) struggle. This is something that if I could go back to each company I would ask that they consider bigger vials for easier viewing.
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I found that this activity made me keenly aware of the products that I purchase. That while we can't always make our students education comfortable and without strife, we should maximize our time with them. 70 hours isn't very long to cover all that we need to cover in our curriculums. I now appreciate the value of the usability assessment. It will forever be a staple of mine in this and other classes. While I couldn't devote as much time as I would have wanted, I found the reading and the research enlightening.
