Testing and evaluating your projects
It is really important that you test your multimedia products. Without it how do you know if they a) work properly (in the case of videos, games, websites, animations etc) and b) meet the client needs.
Before you start making the product, you should plan out how you are going to test it, and specifically what test you are going to do and what the expected result will be. That doesn't mean "I expect it to pass", it needs to be a lot more detailed than that, eg.
Item being tested | Expected Outcomes | Actual Outcome |
Home page - Video of panda sneezing playback size lag |
|
There is an official template for the test table here. When carrying out the test provide evidence. That can be screen shots, possibly before and after, or a short screen capture video. Don't make one long video with all the evidence in - that is just annoying for the assessor when they are checking for something specific. Number your tests and use those numbers in the evidence. Make it easy to see the test has been done.
What to test
This depends on the multimedia product but here are some possible ideas (this is not an exhaustive list)
- Basic functionality - does it load, play etc
- Software compatibility eg for a website does it work in different browsers
- Navigation - do links open correct pages
- Images - size, location
- Video - playback, size, speed, lag
- Animation - playback size, speed lag
- Document size and properties, file types, resolution, physical printed size
- Text - does it display correctly, fonts, size, colour, emphasis (bold etc)
What to put in the evaluation / review
This will depend on the actual question(s) in the review task in the projects so make sure you read them carefully. The evaluation is of the product not of the way you have worked.
The best approach to this is to go through the success criteria you indentified in planning. Take them in turn and discuss a) if they have been met , b) how they have been met, and c) how fully they have been met.
You may want to include evidence here for example a print screen showing the inclusion of a logo if that was criteria (make it easy for the assessor and moderator to agree with what you are saying without having to look for the evidence themselves)
What does "possible improvements" mean?
- What further editing of assets or components that have been used could be done to make it better eg shorten the video clip, add more contrast to an image, crop an image in an interesting shape, change the layout, alter the font or size.
What does "future developments" mean?
- What new features could be included eg add in a star review system, or allow customers to write their own feedback, add in a reference from a famous author.
When writing your possible improvements and future developments make sure to explain why you think they are a good idea, to justify them.