Enhancing learning effectiveness by adopting a knowledge-based usability guidelines

Sylvia Ping Ping Chin, Yue Hong Eric Tsui, Chien Sing Lee

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose – Guidelines for the design of knowledge-based e-learning usability systems are absent from the current recognized set of usability design heuristics and from an established evaluation methodology of e-learning system developments. Such systems can help Web designers and instructional designers design for different user needs and decide which properties are of a higher priority, thus meriting more design and development efforts. The authors aim to help students develop higher-order thinking skills, such as application, evaluation and syntheses of knowledge. Design/methodology/approach – The authors applied Merrill's first principles of instruction and usability properties as pedagogical and usability design guidelines, knowledge management (KM) and hierarchical task analysis as methodological knowledge bases. The authors proposed a KM e-learning usability framework which frames our mapping of Web usability attributes to e-learning usability properties. The authors aim to investigate whether adopting Merrill's first principles of instruction and usability properties as knowledge-based guidelines/design factors would help learners develop higher-order thinking skills and whether this design would result in positive technology acceptance. The authors also developed a method matrix to map the selected methods of cognitive engineering to its potential uses in the KM e-learning usability framework of this paper and mapped e-learning usability tools with components in the KM e-learning usability system. Findings – Findings indicated that our design effectively helped learners to demonstrate higher-order thinking skills and positive technology acceptance, promising indications toward the design and development of knowledge-based usability frameworks and systems. Research/limitations/implications – The sample size of this paper is small. Hence, conclusions are not generalizable at this moment. Originality/Value – The authors’ contributions are twofold: First, the authors proposed a KM e-learning usability framework, which frames the mapping of KM processes to e-learning principles and usability properties. Second, the authors proposed a method matrix which maps the selected methods of cognitive engineering to its potential uses in their KM e-learning usability framework. Based on these mappings and focusing on the usability properties navigation and learning support, the authors used ICT/Web2.0 tools to present/visualize information more clearly and more sensibly/manageably to students, to help trigger new knowledge and develop higher-order thinking skills, such as application, evaluation and syntheses of knowledge and articulate information from different perspectives throughout the KM life cycle.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)123-152
Number of pages30
JournalVINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems
Volume46
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Feb 2016

Keywords

  • Applied knowledge management
  • E-learning
  • Human factors
  • Knowledge-based development
  • Sustainable development
  • Team collaboration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Information Systems
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Library and Information Sciences
  • Management of Technology and Innovation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Enhancing learning effectiveness by adopting a knowledge-based usability guidelines'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this