Evaluating and Testing User Interfaces for E-Learning System: Blackboard Usability Testing

Abstract

E-learning usability studies require the involvement of real end-users. Different users with varying background of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) knowledge behave differently when using any e-learning tools. To study user behaviour in the e-learning context, an empirical usability study on a specific e-learning tool is conducted. The study is performed by using usability evaluation questionnaires collected from two different groups of real users of the tool; one group with HCI knowledge and the other without HCI knowledge. It is found that end users without HCI knowledge are more satisfied than the end-users with HCI knowledge, as they have more expectations concerning the tool. Categories and Subject Descriptors: H.5.2 [Information Interfaces and Presentation (e.g., HCI)]: User Interfaces-User-centered design, Evaluation/methodology; H 5.3 [Information Interfaces and Presentation (e.g., HCI)]: Group and Organization Interfaces-Evaluation/methodology, Web-based interaction; K.3.1 [Computers and Education]: Computer Uses in Education-Collaborative learning

Keywords: E-learning usability heuristics, Blackboard, e-learning tool, Usability evaluation, HCI.