Right answer, nobody can read it
A solution gives the right totals. They come in pence, with no labels, in a wall of numbers. The owner can not tell which row is which.
A good solution is not only correct. It is easy to use, and what it shows makes sense at a glance.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| User experience | how it feels to use a solution: easy, clear and fair |
| Consistent | the same things look and work the same way everywhere |
| Accessible | usable by everyone, including people with poor sight or other needs |
| Visualisation | showing data as a picture, such as a chart |
| Label | words that say what a value or axis is |
| Input | what the user types or picks |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can make input simple, keep a product consistent and accessible, write meaningful messages and choose a clear output.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
This is practice
Important
The real task comes from the exam board. This lesson uses an invented organisation and its own made-up data. Your teacher tells you how the real tasks are set and what you may bring.
Real charts are made on site
Important
This platform has no charting tool. Here a chart is described in words, drawn with text bars or chosen by quiz. Make real charts in a spreadsheet or charting program on site.
Worked example: four user needs
| Need | What to do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Consistent | Same layout, words and formats everywhere | Every amount is shown as £12.50, never 12.5 on one page and 1250p on another |
| Simple input | Offer choices, set defaults, check as the user types | A list of branches to pick from, so nobody types North wrongly |
| Accessible | Do not rely on colour alone. Use plain labels and large text | A bar has a number beside it, as well as a colour |
| Meaningful output | Labels, units and a title that says what it shows | Spend in pounds by category, February |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Run it: text bars made by SQL
SELECT category,
SUBSTR('##########', 1, spend_pence / 150) AS bar,
spend_pence
FROM spend
ORDER BY spend_pence DESC;Why that works as a chart
The bar gives the shape at a glance. The number beside it gives the exact value, so nobody has to guess. The label says what each bar is.
A real chart does the same with proper axes. It would also need a title, axis labels with units, and a text description for anyone who can not see it.