The Usefulness and Usability of Moodle LMS as Employed by Zarqa University in Jordan

Layla Hasan

Abstract


This research investigates the usefulness and usability of Moodle LMS, as employed by a case study university (Zarqa University), based on students’ experience with Moodle LMS on desktop/laptop and mobile/tablet interfaces. A total of 320 students participated in this research in two stages. The results of this research showed that the students at Zarqa University used frequently only two features on Moodle on both its interfaces. The results of this research also showed that a large number of the students required the provision of 15 features on the local instance of Moodle which are not currently provided. Furthermore, the results showed that a large number of the students identified nine usability problems on the interfaces of Moodle, and a large number suggested nine improvements to the design of Moodle to make it more usable. Finally, this research suggests recommendations to improve the usefulness and usability of Moodle LMS as used by the case study university.

Keywords


Moodle, Learning Management Systems, LMS, usability, students’ perception, Zarqa University.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Al-Sarrayrih H. S., Knipping L., & Zorn E. (2010). “Evaluation of a Moodle based learning management system applied at Berlin institute of technology based on Iso-9126”, in the Proceedings of ICL 2010 Conference Hasselt Belgium, 880-887.

Baytiyeh H. (2013). “Perceptions of engineering professors and students regarding the acceptance and use of Moodle”, in the Proceedings of the 120th ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.

Braccini A. M, Silvestri C, Za S., & D'Atri A. (2009). “Users' perception of open source e-learning platform quality: the case of Moodle”, in the Proceedings of VIII IASTED International Conference on Web-based Education, Uskov.

Chung C., Pasquini L., and Koh C. (2013). “Web-Based learning management system considerations for higher education”, Learning and Performance Quarterly, 1(4), 24-37.

Hasan L., Morris A., and Probets S. (2012). “A comparison of usability evaluation methods for evaluating e-commerce websites”, Behaviour & Information Technology, 31(7), 707-737.

ISO 9241-11, (1998). International standard first edition. ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals (vdts), Part11: guidance on usability, , , [accessed 03.04.16].

Ivanc D., Vasiu R., & Onita M. (2012). “Usability evaluation of a LMS mobile web interface”, in the Proceedings of the 18th International Conference, ICIST 2012, Kaunas, Lithuania, September 13-14, 2012, 348-361.

Ivanović Mi., Putnik Z., Komlenov Ž, Welzer T., Hölbl M, & Schweighofer T. (2013). ”Usability and privacy aspects of moodle: students' and teachers' perspective”, Informatica, 37, 221–230.

Kakasevski G., Mihajlov M., Arsenovski S., & Chungurski S. (2008). “Evaluating usability in learning management system Moodle”, in the Proceedings of the ITI 2008 30th Int. Conf. on Information Technology Interfaces, June 23-26, Cavtat, Croatia.

Martin L., Martínez D. R., Revilla O., José M., Santos O. C., & Boticario, J. G. (2008). "Usability in e-Learning platforms: heuristics comparison between Moodle Sakai and dotLRN", in the Proceedings of International Conference and Workshops on Community based environment.

Melton, J. (2006). “The LMS Moodle: a usability evaluation, Languages Issue, 11/12(1), 1–24.

Minović M., Štavljanin V., Milovanović M., & Starčević D. (2008). “Usability issues of e-Learning systems: case-study for Moodle learning management system”, in R. Meersman, Z. Tari, and P. Herrero (Eds.): OTM 2008 Workshops, LNCS 5333, 561–570, 2008. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Moodle, , [accessed 10.01.2018].

Mtebe J. & Kissaka M. (2015). “Heuristics for evaluating usability of learning management systems in Africa”, in the Proceedings of the IST-Africa 2015 Conference.

Nielsen J. (2012). Usability 101: Introduction to usability. Nielsen Norman Group.com,. , [accessed 27.12.2018].

Onacan M. & Erturk A. (2016). “Usability evaluation of learning management system in a higher education institution: a scale development study”, Journal of Global Strategic Management, 10(2).

Rosato J., Dodds C., & Laughlin, S. (2004). “Usability of course management systems by students”, Department of Computer Information Systems/ Computer Science, College of Scholastica, Duluth.

Ssekakubo G., Suleman H., & Marsden G. (2013). “Designing mobile LMS interfaces: Learners’ expectations and experiences”, Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 10(2), 147–167. Available at: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/ITSE-12-2012-0031 [Accessed January 6, 2015].

Senol l., Gecili H. & Durdu P. (2014). “Usability evaluation of a Moodle based learning management system”, in the Proceedings of EdMedia 201, Tampere, Finland, June 23-26.

Simonson M. (2007). “Course management systems”, Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 8(1), vii-ix.

Thuseethan S., Achchuthan S., & Kuhanesan S. (2014). “Usability evaluation of learning management systems in Sri Lankan universities”, arXiv preprint arXiv:1412.0197.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4301/S1807-1775201916009

Copyright (c) 2019 Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management - TECSI.org

Licensed under