FEATURE SESSION 1: Goals tab

Ahead of each session, fill out the following info:

1. Describe the feature to be tested: A page that allows user to select criteria for their plant searching including: how they’ll use land at their site, their planned conservation practice, and types of plants to search for.

2. Describe the purpose of the feature: As users select features the list of available plants in their area gets searched and filtered. Users can see how many plants will match their specific criteria. The purpose of this tab overall is to allow users to enter their criteria so that their initial plant list is relevant to their needs.

3. Give an example of how the feature would be used: For example, if you’re looking for a plant for revegetation of wetland, you could select Use: Wetland, and then Practice: Wetland Restoration. For plants, you might then select “perennials” so the plants included return yearly, and native plants so that you know they’re a fit for the land.

4. Describe what the feature empowers users to complete:
   This feature lets you identify for the tool what you’re looking for, so that you can receive a list of all possible plants that could work for your needs, helping you see the options available for you.
   
   

Kick off the Session: Thank testers for joining. Introduce folks if they haven’t met before.

• Explain what the tool is. “Thanks for joining! We brought you here to help us test a tool called Vegspec. It’s for helping NRCS agents reach their conservation goals. Using this tool, agents can search a database of plants based on the needs of their specific site, their selected practice, and planting purpose. In addition, it lets agents generate seed mixes and estimated costs for their projects.”

• If helpful, give an example. For example, if you’re looking to replant after a forest fire, you could put in the criteria for your site and the types of plants you need, and have the information needed to select species that work, and to figure out seeding rates for these species.

• Explain the purpose of testing. “We’ll test with a wider group in the coming weeks. Your feedback now can help us identify key issues to address before we share it more broadly. The goal is to get your honest impression and input on the tool. “

Check that the tester(s) are comfortable moving forward by getting their consent to join the discussion and take the survey. Explain the following areas (as relevant) and ask whether or not they agree to participate.

• How data gathered from the session can and will be used

• What sensitive information will be collected

• That participation is voluntary -- a chance to opt out or consent
  
  ”If you’re comfortable sharing, what is your first and last name and your professional role?”

  ”I want to communicate that your participation is voluntary. Do you agree to participate?”

Feature Demo: Sit down with the participant and demo the feature from start to finish. Explain the purpose and the function it serves with an example. Allow participants to interject and ask questions throughout the app. Pause frequently to prompt for questions and make sure to allow time for this interaction.

Ask the tester to answer the following questions and write down their responses.

General Questions:

• Can you walk me through your initial impression of the Goal Selection Page? What do you like? What do you dislike?

• Imagine you're trying to Identify plants for Wetland Restoration project. Can you walk me through how you'd use this page to accomplish that?

• How easy or difficult does it seem to use this page? What could improve it?

• Is there anything about this page that you find confusing or unclear?

• Does the page communicate the information you need to set a conservation goal?

• What, if anything is missing? Is there anything you were expecting here that you don’t see?

Feature Specific Questions:

1. Does the current structure for finding a conservation practice make sense?

2. Any suggestions for making this selection more intuitive or easier to find a practice?

3. Is it clear in the the lower selection (plants section) what choices can be made in this area?

4. Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Complete a survey as testers respond to log their feedback.

Thank the testers for their time and help!

FEATURE SESSION 2: Species tab

Ahead of each session, fill out the following info:

1. Describe the feature to be tested: The species selection tab is a tab that lists out all of the species matching the users goal criteria alongside info and images.

2. Describe the purpose of the feature: This tab allows user to filter or sort the species, learn about these species, and select the species they’d like to use towards their goals.

3. Give an example of how the feature would be used: Start in the “matched plants” tab to see what was found. When looking for a plant that is native and grows in the fall, we might filter by “growth period: fall” and then sort by “Nativity.”

4. Describe what the feature empowers users to complete: Users can see all the options available to them and dig into the most relevant species according to their goals.

Kick off the Session: Thank testers for joining. Introduce folks if they haven’t met before.

• Explain what the tool is. “Thanks for joining! We brought you here to help us test a tool called Vegspec. It’s for helping NRCS agents reach their conservation goals. Using this tool, agents can search a database of plants based on the needs of their specific site, their selected practice, and planting purpose. In addition, it lets agents generate seed mixes and estimated costs for their projects.”

• If helpful, give an example. For example, if you’re looking to replant after a forest fire, you could put in the criteria for your site and the types of plants you need, and have the information needed to select species that work, and to figure out seeding rates for these species.

• Explain the purpose of testing. “We’ll test with a wider group in the coming weeks. Your feedback now can help us identify key issues to address before we share it more broadly. The goal is to get your honest impression and input on the tool. “

Check that the tester(s) are comfortable moving forward by getting their consent to join the discussion and take the survey. Explain the following areas (as relevant) and ask whether or not they agree to participate.

• How data gathered from the session can and will be used

• What sensitive information will be collected

• That participation is voluntary -- a chance to opt out or consent

• ”If you’re comfortable sharing, what is your first and last name and your professional role?”

  ”I want to communicate that your participation is voluntary. Do you agree to participate?”

Feature Demo: Sit down with the participant and demo the feature from start to finish. Explain the purpose and the function it serves with an example. Allow participants to interject and ask questions throughout the app. Pause frequently to prompt for questions and make sure to allow time for this interaction.

Ask the tester to answer the following questions and write down their responses.

General Questions

• Can you walk me through your initial impression of the Species Page? What do you like? What do you dislike?

• Imagine you're trying to find 3 plants that grow quickly in the shade, with yellow flowers. Can you walk me through how you'd use this feature to accomplish that?

• How easy or difficult does it seem to use this feature? What could improve it?

• Is there anything about this feature that you find confusing or unclear?

• Does the page communicate the information you need to explore species?

• What, if anything is missing? Is there anything you were expecting here that you don’t see?

Feature Specific Questions

1. Are the number of options and things to do on this page overwhelming or comfortable?

2. Are the filters useful and intuitive?

3. Are there other filters you would find useful?

4. Is it clear to you what the differences are between Matched Plant, Potentially Suites Plants, and All Other Plants?

5. Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Complete a survey as testers respond to log their feedback.

Thank the testers for their time and help!

FEATURE SESSION 3: Seed Mix tab

Ahead of each session, fill out the following info:

1. Describe the feature to be tested: This is a page where users can enter their seeding rate, estimated cost per pound, and plant mix percentage.

2. Describe the purpose of the feature: User input on this screen provides users with info such as how much seed to purchase, the cost per acre, and other useful info to prepare them for implementation of their strategy.

3. Give an example of how the feature would be used: If a user wants to plant Alfafa and Vetch together over 3 acres, they can figure out how much seed to buy, and what the cost would be.

4. Describe what the feature empowers users to complete: Seed mixing and purchase planning

Kick off the Session: Thank testers for joining. Introduce folks if they haven’t met before.

• Explain what the tool is. “Thanks for joining! We brought you here to help us test a tool called Vegspec. It’s for helping NRCS agents reach their conservation goals. Using this tool, agents can search a database of plants based on the needs of their specific site, their selected practice, and planting purpose. In addition, it lets agents generate seed mixes and estimated costs for their projects.”

• If helpful, give an example. For example, if you’re looking to replant after a forest fire, you could put in the criteria for your site and the types of plants you need, and have the information needed to select species that work, and to figure out seeding rates for these species.

• Explain the purpose of testing. “We’ll test with a wider group in the coming weeks. Your feedback now can help us identify key issues to address before we share it more broadly. The goal is to get your honest impression and input on the tool. “

Check that the tester(s) are comfortable moving forward by getting their consent to join the discussion and take the survey. Explain the following areas (as relevant) and ask whether or not they agree to participate.

• How data gathered from the session can and will be used

• What sensitive information will be collected

• That participation is voluntary -- a chance to opt out or consent

• ”If you’re comfortable sharing, what is your first and last name and your professional role?”

  ”I want to communicate that your participation is voluntary. Do you agree to participate?”

Feature Demo: Sit down with the participant and demo the feature from start to finish. Explain the purpose and the function it serves with an example. Allow participants to interject and ask questions throughout the app. Pause frequently to prompt for questions and make sure to allow time for this interaction.

Ask the tester to answer the following questions and write down their responses.

General Questions

• Can you walk me through your initial impression of the Seed Mix Page? What do you like? What do you dislike?

• Imagine you're trying to purchase seeds for 3 acres. Can you walk me through how you'd use this feature to accomplish that?

• How easy or difficult does it seem to use this page? What could improve it?

• Is there anything about this page that you find confusing or unclear?

• Does the page communicate the information you need to prep your seed mix?

• What, if anything is missing? Is there anything you were expecting here that you don’t see?

Feature Specific Questions

• Is it clear what needs to be done on this page?

• Is the ability to change seeding rates (slider bar) intuitive based on the seeding method or purpose?

• What do you think of the graphs section? Could you see more information being necessary for this section to make sense?

• Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Complete a survey as testers respond to log their feedback.

Thank the testers for their time and help!