"La experiencia del usuario..." (UX en Español)

WOOOOOT!  Today, I taught the faculty in Software Engineering.  About UX.  For 4 (!) hours.  ALL IN SPANISH!

I'm flying high!

I put quite a lot of effort into illustrating each step of the process and each of the tools using the Speedy Bead "project".  For instance, I used sticky notes on the wall of my apartment to show how I create a persona, and also photographed the class' first steps in data analysis with the large Affinity Diagram in the hallway.  It seemed to help them really understand what I was talking about.  Since they had already observed how we did Affinity Diagramming and had spontaneously identified ways it might be useful to them for other types of tasks as well, these examples really helped solidify their understanding.

The Speedy Bead Affinity Diagram of Observations from
Ethnographic Interview/Contextual Inquiry

The best thing, of course, was that it was IN SPANISH!  And that Elba and others commented on how much better it was!  Elba even said she was impressed and I rarely had the experience of the class having to confer amongst itself to sort out a meaning.  This was a HUGE win for me!

Elba came over for dinner afterwards and we celebrated!  It's probably my last time seeing her for rather a while, so it was also emotional.  But she's such a superstar - I am sure our paths will continue to be intertwined!

In which Tigger comes to UTP

This morning started with the Security Briefing at the US Embassy in Clayton.  What great people!  Apparently the main briefing was cancelled so Sarah Ferguson read me the security policy so I could sign it.  We did a bit of tag-teaming where she read and then I filled in the next bit.  We both found words that we didn't know - whoever wrote the policy was clearly a frustrated fiction writer who embellished the document with a number of archaic words.  But it was great fun also to talk about the security issues and how to avoid problems.  Yes, fun - because Sarah is such a lovely person!

I also had brief meetings with Public Affairs Officer Kristin Stewart de Rodriguez and Andrea Corey, the Cultural Affairs Officer.  Lovely people (women!) for sure!

After the briefing, I had the opportunity and privilege to have lunch with the Dean, Prof. Nicholas Samaniego, as well as Euclides Saminiego, Aris Castillo, and Elba (there was one other woman - help me remember!)  Quite a lovely meal with terrific food and even better conversation.  We discussed at a very high level the kinds of things that would be useful for me to do.  I'm getting a clearer picture with each meeting.

Aris then took me on a tour of the Computer Engineering offices, introducing me to a number of professors.  I must admit that, between my natural issues with names and my "brain-is-full" fatigue, I doubt I'll be remembering them for a while, but I'm hopeful.  There seems to be a lot of interest in (1) practicing English comprehension and speech and (2) a variety of projects.  However, after putting it all together, Aris and I plotted a bit and struck on the idea of doing a usability evaluation of the UTP website.  Should be very interesting.  We'll definitely have to nail tasks and recruiting.

But the title says that Tigger should be in this post and so he should be because I felt very very much like him all day today.  I keep getting more and more excited as plans firm up and I get to meet these most amazing people in a terrific department.  I'm very honored to get to work with them, but honestly, I feel rather like my feet are 3 feet off the ground and that I'm bouncing - bouncy, bouncy, bouncy - rather like the aforementioned Pooh friend.  I suppose that I will calm down a bit once things start in earnest - or not.  It's hard to tell with Tiggers after all.

Tomorrow, I will meet the faculty at a meeting.  Elba is picking me up earlier so we can accomplish great things together.  Stay tuned!

And thank you again for being on this journey with me.