Experimentation with a System Dynamics Based Interactive Learning Environment: A Case Study of Accessibility of Norwegian Municipalities Websites

A System Dynamics (SD) simulation model including factors affecting the accessibility of Norwegian municipal websites was encapsulated in an Interactive Learning Environment (ILE). Accessibility is an important aspect of websites generally and public websites particularly. Many ways could be proposed to enhance accessibility, however the impact of selected actions is hard to predict due to diversification and contradiction, in addition to the existence of the time factor. As the SD model promised to be able to change how users think and take decisions, this ILE was tested by users in an experiment. We have conducted α, β, and γ change analysis on the results of this experiment. Results showed that the ILE was successful in changing 50% of its users’ understanding and perceptions about the system’s causal relations and policy options, and helping 30% redefining the standards they use to assess or evaluate these relations and policy options.