Optimizing Usability Testing in the Context of a Large-scale Software Service for Digital Textbooks
Description
The adoption of digital textbooks in education has steadily increased. This paper reports on the initiative Digi4School aiming to provide a large-scale software service for digital textbooks. Since the usability of this service is of particular concern, it is the subject of a design science research project with the goal to investigate two artifacts: (1) an optimized method for usability testing and (2) a fully-functional software service for delivering digital textbooks to users with heterogeneous IT background. We conclude that a combination of usability tests and the use of a questionnaire including closed and open-ended questions is recommended. Furthermore, both novice and expert users should evaluate a system’s usability with iterations until the usability measures reach a satisfactory level for all users. This was achieved for Digi4School. Such an approach has the potential to identify and eliminate flaws that prevent users from adopting the system.
Optimizing Usability Testing in the Context of a Large-scale Software Service for Digital Textbooks
Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii
The adoption of digital textbooks in education has steadily increased. This paper reports on the initiative Digi4School aiming to provide a large-scale software service for digital textbooks. Since the usability of this service is of particular concern, it is the subject of a design science research project with the goal to investigate two artifacts: (1) an optimized method for usability testing and (2) a fully-functional software service for delivering digital textbooks to users with heterogeneous IT background. We conclude that a combination of usability tests and the use of a questionnaire including closed and open-ended questions is recommended. Furthermore, both novice and expert users should evaluate a system’s usability with iterations until the usability measures reach a satisfactory level for all users. This was achieved for Digi4School. Such an approach has the potential to identify and eliminate flaws that prevent users from adopting the system.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/hicss-50/cl/teaching_and_learning_technologies/22