A Usability Evaluation Framework for Web Based Learning Management Systems Used in Kenyan Universities

Abstract

Despite the fast adoption of web-based learning management systems (LMS) in institutions of higher Learning, insufficient attention has been paid to the usability of these systems in developing countries. Usability evaluation for the web-based LMS needs to be conducted before implementing them so as to get maximum benefits from tones of learning features which are integrated in them. However, the available standard usability evaluation guidelines are inadequate for evaluation of domain specific applications. There are few studies which have made the first steps in proposing guidelines for evaluating web-based LMS. Howerver, they were found not adequate in the current study. On this premise, it is difficult to adapt any of the proposed guidelines without any further improvement. In this study, we proposed a usability evaluation framework for evaluating web-based LMSs used in Kenyan universities. The proposed framework was tested by applying it in usability evaluation of Moodle LMS. Two primary usability evaluation methods (UEMs) were used which are user testing and expert evaluation. Think aloud method and post-evaluation questionnaire were used to supplement user testing. Four expert evaluators were used for expert evaluation and 36 students were used for user testing. The proposed framework was found adequate for use in usability evaluation of web-based LMSs.