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Usability
Usability (also known as user-friendliness) is a product characteristic which defines how easily, for example, learning software can be used. The core of usability consists of the criteria of effectiveness, efficiency and the level of satisfaction (cf. premises of usability, DIN EN ISO 9241-11; Heinsen & Vogt, 2003). Effectiveness answers the question of whether the users can achieve the goals they have set by using the software. Efficiency refers to the effort required from the user to complete a task. User satisfaction reflects perceived user friendliness of the product (Grötsch & Anft, 2005).
Seven principles
According to DIN EN ISO 9241-10, there are seven principles of usability (principles of dialogue design) which should be considered in the development of software. Although these standards relate to computer aided office work, they can also be applied to the field of e-learning (Heinsen & Vogt, 2003 ; Grötsch & Anft, 2005):
- Suitability for the task: The product should provide appropriate functionality and comfort. Unnecessary interaction should be kept to a minimum.
- Self-descriptiveness: The product should be sufficiently self-explanatory and comprehensible (e.g. with help files, feedback).
- Controllability:Control should be in the hands of users and they should be able to influence how they work with the product.
- Conformity with user expectations: The product should be consistent in the way that work routines and user habits can be taken into account.
- Error tolerance: Serious errors should be avoided. Any errors should be easy to remedy and the software should support the user in eliminating errors in order to enable them to achieve the desired result in their work.
- Customisability: It should be possible for the user to adapt the product to individual needs and requirements without great difficulty.
- Facilitation of learning: Users should be able to familiarise themselves with the product and get results without great difficulty and in a short time.
Methods and instruments
The principles listed above can be verified using various approaches (Grötsch & Anft, 2005):
- Usability
questionnaires: The user friendliness of a learning technology can be quickly and cost-effectively verified using questionnaires. The following questionnaires were developed for user software and are based on the seven principles listed above:
- ISOMetrics (in German): http://www.isometrics.uni-osnabrueck.de/qn.htm
- ISONORM (in German): www.ergo-online.de/…
- SUMI: http://sumi.ucc.ie/ (the PDF 4.0 link leads to a test version)
- "Usability-Fragebogen" (short version, doc, 68 kB, in German).
- ISOMetrics (in German): http://www.isometrics.uni-osnabrueck.de/qn.htm
- Usability testing: If you document
the behaviour of the user directly the evaluation will be more complex
methodologically but it will be more precise.
- Here, a distinction is made between the "expert-based" method (see Page on Expert-based method) and
- the "user-based" method (see Page on User-based method).
Further information...
- is provided for you on the page created for a project for the European Union (EU):http://www.usabilitynet.org/ (see there especially "Tools & Methods");
- can be found at this page (in German): http://www.fit-fuer-usability.de/index.html
