Abstract
The aspect of accessibility and adaptivity is important for future of e-Learning applications. Creating e-Learning applications for everybody, including people with special needs, remains the question. The problem with development of e-Learning applications for everybody is that learner ability and weaknesses are usually neglected as important factors while developing applications. Most of nowadays applications offer lots of unclear information, unsuitable contents and non-adapted mechanisms. This paper suggests basic guidelines for successful design and structuring accessible and adaptive e-Learning applications that consider the requests and needs of people with special needs. It provides an example of design and realization of e-Learning application for receiving ECDL certificate, which includes easy adaptivity and basic accessibility factors. Experimental results of usability testing and pedagogical effectiveness have shown that material, designed following these guidelines, is appropriate and that there must be extra attention paid to learnability factor in the future.
Chapter PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Parlangeli, O., Marchigiani, E., Bagnara, S.: Multimedia systems in distance education: effects of usability on learning. Interacting with Computers 12, 37–49 (1999)
Kulik, C.C., Kulik, J.A., Shwalb, B.J.: The effectiveness of computer applications: a meta-analysis. Journal of Research on Computing in Education 27, 48–61 (1994)
Bosco, J.: An analysis of evaluations of interactive video. Educat. Techn. 25, 7–16 (1986)
Chou, S.W., Liu, C.: Learning effectiveness in a Web-based virtual learning environment: a learner control perspective. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 21, 65–76 (2005)
Schulz-Zander, R., Büchter, A., Dalmer, R.: The role of ICT as a promoter of students’ cooperation. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 18, 438–448 (2002)
Smith, C., Mayes, T.: Telematics Applications for Education and Training: Usability Guide. In: ICBL (1996)
Carpenter, D., Dolan, D., Leahy, D., Sher-Wood-Smith, M.: ECDL/ICDL: a global computer literacy initiative. In: The Proceedings of Conference on Educational Uses of Information and Communication Technologies (ICEUT), Beijing: Publishing House of Electronics Industry (PHEI) (2000)
Kronreif, G., et al.: SMILE: demonstration of a cognitively oriented solution to the improvement of written language competence of deaf people. In: The Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs-ICCHP 2000. Karlsruhe, Germany (2000)
Vanderheiden, G.C.: Full Visual Annotation of Auditorially Presented Information for Users Who Are Deaf: ShowSounds. In: The Proceedings of the RESNA International Conference, Toronto, Canada (1992)
ECDL-Barrierefrei http://www.barrierefrei.ecdl.at
Druin, A., Hendler, J.: Robots for Kids: Exploring new technologies for learning. Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco (2000)
Osguthorpe, R.T., Graham, C.R.: Blended Learning Environments: Definitions and Directions. Quarterly Review of Distance Education 3, 227–233 (2003)
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta): Website accessibility guide – Understanding and implementing accessibility (2005)
Kelly, B., Sloan, D., Phipps, L., Petrie, H., Hamilton, F.: Forcing standardization or accommodating diversity: a framework for applying the WCAG in the real world. In: Proceedings of the 2005 International Cross-Disciplinary Workshop on Web Accessibility (W4A), Chiba, Japan, pp. 46–54 (2005)
Gulliksen, J., Harker, S., Vanderheiden, G.: Guidelines, standards, methods and processes for software accessibility. International Journal Universal Access in the Information Society 3, 1–5 (2004)
Schneider-Hufschmidt, M., Kühme, T., Malinowski, U. (eds.): Adaptive User Interfaces: Principles and Practise. Elsevier, North Holland, Amsterdam (1993)
Chen, C.-M., Lee, H.-M., Chen, Y.-H.: Personalized e-Learning system using Item Response Theory. Computers & Education 44, 237–255 (2005)
Brusilovsky, P.: Adaptive Hypermedia. User. Modeling and User.-Adapted Interaction 11, 87–110 (2001)
Dougiamas, M., Taylor, P.: Moodle: Using Learning Communities to Create an Open Source Course Management System. In: Kommers P., Richards, G. (eds.) Proceedings of World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications. AACE, Chesapeake VA, pp. 171–178 (2003)
Squires, D., Preece, J.: Predicting quality in educational software: Evaluating for learning, usability and the synergy between them. Interacting with Computers 11, 467–483 (1999)
Ardito, C., Costabile, M.F., De Marsico, M., Lanzilotti, R., Levialdi, S., Roselli, T., Rossano, V., Tersigni, M.: An Approach to Usability Evaluation of e-Learning Applications. International Journal Universal Access in the Information Society, Special Issue on User-Centred Interaction Paradigms for Universal Access in the Information Society, 1–14 (2005)
Dringus, L.P., Cohen, M.S.: An adaptable Usability Heuristic Checklist for Online Courses. In: The Proceedings of the ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (2005)
Holzinger, A.: Usability Engineering Methods for Software Developers. Communication of the ACM 48, 71–74 (2005)
Achetemeier, S., Morris, L., Finnegan, C.: Considerations for developing evaluations for online courses. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 7 (2003)
Kirakowski, J., Corbett, M.: SUMI: The Software Usability Measurement Inventory. British Journal of Educational Technology 24, 210–212 (1993)
Sonwalkar, N.: A New Methodology for Evaluation: The Pedagogical Rating of Online Courses. Syllabus 15, 18–21 (2002)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Debevc, M., Stjepanovič, Z., Povalej, P., Verlič, M., Kokol, P. (2007). Accessible and Adaptive e-Learning Materials: Considerations for Design and Development. In: Stephanidis, C. (eds) Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. Applications and Services. UAHCI 2007. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4556. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73283-9_61
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73283-9_61
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-73282-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-73283-9
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)