Usability of Online Learning Systems and Course Materials

Human-computer interaction (HCI) aims to design and develop high-usability interactive systems (ISs) focusing on users’ needs and ergonomic principles, among others. The usability of an IS refers to how easy it is to use and to learn. Similarly, software engineering (SE) aims to design and develop high-quality ISs focusing on schedule, budget, communication, and productivity. The quality of an IS refers to how satisfied the system clients and/ or users are, verifying whether the system is performing exactly what was requested. In order to achieve both IS usability and quality, it is necessary to integrate HCI concepts into an IS development method. HCI concepts can be characteristics of users (such as their preferences, language, culture, and system experience) and of their context of use (such as easy accessibility and good luminosity of the environment). In the online learning context, it is necessary to integrate HCI concepts into an online learning system development method. The pedagogic usability of an online learning system is related to how easy and effective it is for a student to learn something using the system. For these reasons, it is important not only to think about the IS quality, but about its usability as well. In this text, an online learning system on the Web is composed of a virtual learning environment (VLE), with tools to support a collaborative learning and online course materials available for the users through this environment. So, it is important not only to think about the VLE usability, but also about the online course material usability. We have identified some problems to achieve a successful deployment of online learning systems (Furtado, Mattos, Furtado & Vanderdonckt, 2003):