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Title:
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USABILITY OF LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: DO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SKILLS WIDEN THE GAP? |
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Author(s):
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Judy Van Biljon , Marco Pretorius |
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ISBN:
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978-972-8924-83-6 |
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Editors:
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Miguel Baptista Nunes and Maggie McPherson (series editors: Piet Kommers, Pedro Isaías and Nian-Shing Chen) |
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Year:
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2009 |
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Edition:
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V I, 2 |
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Keywords:
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Usability, learning management systems, eye tracking, expert, non-expert |
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Type:
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Full Paper |
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First Page:
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247 |
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Last Page:
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254 |
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Language:
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English |
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Cover:
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Full Contents:
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click to dowload 
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Paper Abstract:
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The Web is becoming the preferred delivery mode of learning management services such as student enrolment and
assignment submission. In developing countries the students Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills
vary greatly and this influences their ability to use Learning Management Systems. Technology has been proposed as the
tool for crossing the digital divide but if usability problems exclude users on the basis of ICT skills, technology may well
become a tool for enforcing the digital divide. This paper investigates the implications of usability in Learning
Management Systems by considering the experiences of ICT experts and non-experts in using the Learning Management
System of an open-distance university. Based on the analysis of usability data captured by video recordings, eye tracking,
a post-test questionnaire and interviews, we identify and discuss the usability differences experienced by ICT expert and
non-expert users. We conclude that usability is critical in Learning Management Systems where the web is the only
delivery mode and students ICT skills vary. The contribution of this paper is to highlight the effect of ICT skills on the
usability of Learning Management Systems and eventually learning. This has implications for educators, e-learning
designers and evaluators. |
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