I hope you’re enjoying your Thanksgiving break! When we return next week, we will be down to our last four days of class, so we’ll need to make every minute count. I plan to keep our schedule as open as possible, which should give you the time you need to coordinate much of your team’s work on the client project. Your individual work on your best practices article will primarily take place outside of class, but we’ll check in on that assignment during Week 14 to make sure that everyone is on track. Here’s how we’ll proceed:

• On Monday, the protocol for your team’s usability tests is due, but not until the end of class. You should be making progress on this task over the break (using Steve Krug’s sample script linked on the Resources page), but you will have the full class period on Monday to finalize your protocol and submit it for my approval. When you leave class, you should be ready to begin testing your site with real people. I will spend a few minutes meeting with each team during class, so if you have questions about your client project or problems you’d like me to help you resolve, please be ready to talk about them. Finally, for those of you taking Exam #2, your completed exam is due at the beginning of class. To submit your exam, carefully follow the instructions contained at the top of the exam.
• On Wednesday, we will briefly consider how to apply the results of your usability tests to a revised draft of your site. Before you come to class, please review at least two of the sample usability reports linked on the Resources page and take notes on how you can apply these examples to your client project. The remainder of class will be dedicated workshop time for your team to make progress on Unit #3. While you work in your teams, I will meet with each of you individually to confirm your plans for Unit #4. Please be ready to describe the topic you have chosen, the publication you are targeting, and the progress you have made so far.

If you have any questions about the exam, or about our plans for Week 14, just let me know. Otherwise, I’ll see you in class on Monday!