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Instructors find it difficult to design courses on iLearn as a result of the current interface. The purpose of this study was to identify deficiencies and provide recommendations to facilitate better use.
If instructors are provided with easy to use features, more courses could be managed online. If user experience design becomes an integral part of the development process, the Learning Management System would eventually be utilized to its potential by professors, instructors and students.
Basic usability test: Give the user a task, then observe the first thing a user does. Observe the steps taken to complete the task. How easy and straightforward was it for the user? How many errors did the user make? What are the user's expectations? How satisfied is the user at the end -- did it meet user's needs? Usability is important; if it's not intuitive and logical, if there are too many steps and too many deficiencies, the user will likely give up and leave.
Surveys are not the best form of measurement when it comes to usability -- they do not measure the true nature of human interaction. But surveys do complement user observations and generally measure frequency, satisfaction and anticipation of future needs. "Surveys are notoriously ineffective for generatin new ideas and approaches" - The Role of Online Surveys in the Usability Assessment Process
Microsoft's Live@edu announced their collaborative efforts with Moodle today. New plugins are made available: shared workspaces, storage, instant messaging, calendar, search and email. Live@edu is a free education portal that also may function as a freestanding LMS (Learning Management System). Nice to see Microsoft finally embracing such a thing as open source web development.
Kevin Kelly; online teaching and learning coordinator, Cristian Alvarado; Technology Consultant & Angie Portacio; graphic and web designer, all at Academic Tech., SF StateJoshua Singer -- SF State DAI Faculty & Assistant Professor -- Graphic Designer and UED extraordinaire
* PERT chart modeled off time-line.. ehem no comment.
"iLearn’s interface architecture lacks user-centered design and can be perceived as problematic for its users.
The purpose of this study was to identify deficiencies and give recommendations of an upgraded system that is ideal for professors as well as students.”
Sound like proper statements?
Just learned that programmers are currently working to improve iLearn - a new version will be up in fall '09. The changes will primarily upgrade items dealing with storing/database + include additional apps. One nice feature is the digital archive (http://diva.sfsu.edu) to be integrated into iLearn. The look will be updated (less brown, more university..) but UI seems to remain..
The Elements, by Jesse James Garrett
I'm a DAI Vis Com major with an emphasis in the San Francisco Experience.. I am wowed by people who never give up (but know when to stop and turn in a new direction). I look at digital re-mixers April Greiman , Paula Scher and David Carson (long live the 90s) for artistic inspiration + do I the late Robert Rauchenberg.
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“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery—celebrate it if you feel like it”- Jim Jarmusch.
