Usability and Learning: A Framework for Evaluation of Web-Based e-Learning Applications

Abstract

With rapid advances in information and communication technology, e-learning is playing a major role in education and training. Aspects of usability, as well as learning issues, need to be considered in the development and evaluation of e-learning applications. This paper proposes a framework for evaluation of web-based e-learning applications that narrows the gap between the fields of educational computing and Human Computer Interaction. A literature study was undertaken to synthesise the framework, which comprises three categories – general interface design, web-site specific design, and instructional design. The categories contain sets of criteria and subcriteria that relate to aspects of learning and usability. In an evaluation study, a learner-survey was conducted of a course website, Info3Net, to determine the effectiveness of the evaluation framework. The criteria served well in identifying deficiencies in the application with regard to its usability and support for learning.