Recruiting now for April: children aged 8 to 18 for Keyboard Navigation Usability Test in MakeCode, USA
Emma Posey
Micro:bit Educational Foundation is recruiting children aged 8 to 18 for Keyboard Navigation Usability Test in MakeCode in the USA from Monday 21st and Friday 25th April 2025.
Please share this email with anyone you think might be interested...
Micro:bit Educational Foundation is working with Google and Microsoft to improve the accessibility of MakeCode block-based programming. As part of this development, we are looking for participants for a Keyboard Navigation Usability Test in the USA from Monday 21st to Friday 25th April 2025.
We are offering $50 voucher as a ‘thank you’ for participants.
👀 Who are we looking for? Young people who are:
· Based in the USA
· In education (aged 8 to 18), ideally with coding experience
🚨 Participants need to meet one or more of the below:
· Only use a keyboard and cannot use a mouse, trackpad, or touchscreen
· Use assistive switches (emulating a keyboard)
· Use eye gaze technology (emulating a keyboard)
📝 What is involved?
· A number of fun online block-based coding tasks using MakeCode block editor
· Participants describing their experience and feeding back using video and online forms
· Tasks will be completed independently at home or in school, in your own time and will take 1 – 2 hours in total to complete
· Participants who are aged 8 to 18 will need to complete the activities and provide feedback with the support of an adult
🌟 What experience do participants need?
· Ideally have block-based coding experience
· Confident using computers with their assistive technology
· Understand and follow simple instructions to complete tasks on a computer
· Young people should be able to express their thoughts and preferences and to a supporting adult
🗓 When will it take place?
Between Monday 21st and Friday 25th April 2025.
🚀 How do I take part?
Simply select the link below and complete the application form. It takes about 3 minutes.
👉 Help us make block-coding more accessible – Apply Now 👈
Please note:
Applicants may be required to have a 10-minute Zoom call. If they are under 18, they will need to be accompanied during the call by an adult (parent, carer, or teacher).
🤔 What is the purpose of this research?
Through the research, we are seeking to understand a participant’s experience of block-based programming. We will be documenting the participant’s use of a block-based programming prototype through audio, photography and video recordings of the participant’s interaction – we do not want to capture the faces of participants. We will be sharing the outcomes of the research with a project group to improve computing experiences for students. We will share further details on this ahead of the session. Please see the Foundation’s Privacy & cookies policy.