An approach to usability evaluation of e-learning applications

Abstract

Despite recent advances of electronic technologies in e-learning, a consolidated evaluation methodology for e-learning applications is not available. The evaluation of educational software must consider its usability and more in general its accessibility, as well as its didactic effectiveness. This work is a first step towards the definition of a methodology for evaluating e-learning applications. Specific usability attributes capturing the peculiar features of these applications are identified. A preliminary user study involving a group of e-students, observed during their interaction with an e-learning application in a real situation, is reported. Then, the proposal is put forward to adapt to the e-learning domain a methodology for systematic usability evaluation, called SUE. Specifically, evaluation patterns are proposed that are able to drive the evaluators in the analysis of an e-learning application. © Springer-Verlag 2005

Impact of System Quality on Users’ Satisfaction in Continuation of the Use of e-Learning System

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“…[3], [11]) confirm that students appreciate the advantages of electronic materials in terms of portability and overall ubiquity, but they also value legibility, presentation and good design. There is also a clear demand for extra functions such as smart searches and dynamic indexing.…”

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“…A growing body of literature (Agnew, 2008;Ardito et al, 2006;Bishoff and Allen, 2004;Blandford and Buchanan, 2003;Clements and Pawlowski, 2012;Hall, Naughton, and Lin, 2009;Kimbrough, Padmanabhan, and Zheng, 2000;Lim and Ko, 2005;Nicholson, 2003;NISO Framework Working Group, 2007;Saracevic, 2005;Xie, 2006;Xie, 2008) acknowledges the importance of the following:…”

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