Performance-Based Usability maturity Assessment Framework for VLS in Universities

Abstract: Virtual learning systems are becoming an increasingly common form of education due to the need for a platform that provides ability to connect people with required sets of skills, regardless of their location in the world. However, user satisfaction has always been a major factor in the success of software, regardless of whether the software is proprietary or freeware (such as open source software). Although user-centred designs are gaining recognition among virtual learning system community, many design scenarios still do not incorporate usability as one of their primary goals. Accordingly, many individuals believe that if virtual learning system was more usable, its popularity would increase tremendously. Although there are strong usability models for information systems, there is still potential to improve the usability of virtual learning systems. The usability assessment of virtual learning systems is an area where relatively little research has been conducted, and, accordingly, the main contribution of this work is a framework that evaluates the usability maturity of a virtual learning systems. Consequently, the study presents a performance-based Virtual Learning System Usability Maturity Assessment Framework that is aimed at usability-related issues for virtual learning systems in universities.

Keywords: virtual learning systems; usability; usability assessment framework; user-centred designs.