Improving the quality and effectiveness of computer-mediated instruction through usability evaluations

Improving the quality and effectiveness of computer-mediated instruction through usability evaluations

Brigham Young University's Center for Instructional Design (CID) creates online courses and multimedia instructional applications for university faculty. This paper asserts that including usability testing as a part of evaluation improves the quality and effectiveness of computer‐mediated instr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of educational technology Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 289 - 303
Main Authors: Crowther, Michael S., Keller, Chris C., Waddoups, Gregory L.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-05-2004
Blackwell Publishing
Blackwell
Subjects:
Case Studies
Chemistry
Computer Assisted Instruction
Distance teaching
Educational sciences
Evaluation Methods
Instructional Design
Instructional Effectiveness
Internet
Online Courses
Quality Control
Teaching aids
Chemistry
Computer assisted instruction
Efficiency
Teaching Project
Quality
Automatic Teaching
Curriculum Evaluation
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Summary:Brigham Young University's Center for Instructional Design (CID) creates online courses and multimedia instructional applications for university faculty. This paper asserts that including usability testing as a part of evaluation improves the quality and effectiveness of computer‐mediated instruction. The paper describes the fundamental purpose and functions of usability testing, and also distinguishes between different forms of evaluation: accessibility, quality assurance (QA), usability and implementation. Through a detailed case study, we describe how usability testing improved the quality of a computer‐based chemistry course and facilitated a clearer analysis of the learning effectiveness of this course.
Bibliography:ark:/67375/WNG-1XHX2N59-C
ArticleID:BJET390
istex:318082C7B7D0F925BA458B38462457DF1A24DEF1
ISSN:0007-1013
1467-8535
DOI:10.1111/j.0007-1013.2004.00390.x