Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

COVID-19 Pandemic: A Usability Study on Platforms to Support eLearning

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
HCI International 2020 – Late Breaking Posters (HCII 2020)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1294))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the higher education communities throughout almost the entire world have moved from traditional face-to-face teaching to remote learning by using video conferencing software and online learning applications and platforms. With social distancing requirements, it is expected that eLearning will be part of the delivery modalities at least until an effective vaccine is widely available. Even after the pandemic is over, it is expected that remote learning and online education will be part of the “new or next normal.” Such online and remote learning modalities are not simply restricted to academic institutions. Businesses are using online and remote learning to re-train, re-tool, and re-educate their employees. The students, in general, are not enthusiastic about the virtual classroom. Niche.com surveyed 14,000 undergraduate and graduate students in April 2020 and found that more than 2/3 of them thought online classes are not as effective as in-person and teacher-centered classes. This unplanned change in teaching modes caused by COVID-19 and the negative feedback from students creates some serious concerns for educators and universities. How to enhance the eLearning experience for students? How to choose from many eLearning platforms on the market? Which eLearning platform is the most user friendly and the best suited for online classes? Which eLearning platforms enable the best class participation and student involvement? In this research, we apply the eLearning usability heuristics to evaluate the major video conferencing platforms (e.g., Cisco Webex, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Chen, X., Siau, K.: Technology-mediated synchronous virtual education: an empirical study. J. Database Manag. 27(4), 39–63 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Eschenbrenner, B., Nah, F., Siau, K.: 3-D virtual worlds in education: applications, benefits, issues, and opportunities. J. Database Manag. 19(4), 91–110 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Rusu, C., Muñoz, R., Roncagliolo, S., Rudloff, S., Rusu, V., Figueroa, A.: Usability heuristics for virtual worlds. In: Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Advances in Future Internet, IARIA, pp. 16–19 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chen, X., Siau, K., Nah, F.: Empirical comparison of 3-D virtual world and face-to-face classroom for higher education. J. Database Manag. 23(3), 30–49 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Yáñez Gómez, R., Caballero, D., Sevillano, J.: Heuristic evaluation on mobile interfaces: a new checklist. Sci. World J. (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Sanz, F., et al.: A set of usability heuristics and design recommendations for e-learning applications. Information Technology: New Generations. AISC, vol. 448, pp. 983–993. Springer, Cham (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32467-8_85

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  7. Gilboy, M., Heinerichs, S., Pazzaglia, G.: Enhancing student engagement using the flipped classroom. J. Nutr. Educ. Behav. 47(1), 109–114 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Thai, N., De Wever, B., Valcke, M.: The impact of a flipped classroom design on learning performance in higher education: Looking for the best “blend” of lectures and guiding questions with feedback. Comput. Educ. 107, 113–126 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Nah, F., Schiller, S., Mennecke, B., Siau, K., Eschenbrenner, B., Sattayanuwat, P.: Collaboration in virtual worlds: impact of task complexity on team trust and satisfaction. J. Database Manag. 28(4), 60–78 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Siau, K., Ling, M.: Mobile collaboration support for virtual teams: the case of virtual information systems development teams. J. Database Manag. 28(4), 48–69 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Siau, K., Nah, F., Ling, M.: National culture and its effects on knowledge communication in online virtual communities. Int. J. Electron. Bus. 5(5), 518–532 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Gao, S., Krogstie, J., Siau, K.: Adoption of mobile information services: an empirical study. Mob. Inf. Syst. 10(2), 147–171 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gao, S., Krogstie, J., Siau, K.: Development of an instrument to measure the adoption of mobile services. Mob. Inf. Syst. 7(1), 45–67 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Sheng, H., Siau, K., Nah, F.: Understanding the values of mobile technology in education: a value-focused thinking approach. ACM SIGMIS Database 41(2), 25–44 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Sheng, H., Nah, F., Siau, K.: strategic implications of mobile technology: a case study using value-focused thinking. J. Strateg. Inf. Syst. 14(3), 269–290 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Katerattanakul, P., Siau, K.: Creating a virtual store image. Commun. ACM 46(12), 226–232 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Nielsen, J., Molich, R.: Heuristic evaluation of user interfaces. In: Proceedings of ACM CHI 1990 Conference, pp. 249–256 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Nielsen Norman Group. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/. Accessed 8 July 2020

  19. Hermawati, S., Lawson, G.: Establishing usability heuristics for heuristics evaluation in a specific domain: is there a consensus? Appl. Ergon. 56, 34–51 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Figueroa, I., Jiménez, C., Allende-Cid, H., Leger, P.: Developing usability heuristics with PROMETHEUS: a case study in virtual learning environments. Comput. Stand. Interfaces 65, 132–142 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Zou, C., Zhao, W., Siau, K.: COVID-19 calls for remote reskilling and retraining. Cutter Bus. Technol. J. 33(7), 21–25 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Suda, K., Sterling, J., Guirguis, A., Mathur, S.: Student perception and academic performance after implementation of a blended learning approach to a drug information and literature evaluation course. Currents Pharm. Teach. Learn. 6(3), 367–372 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Coronavirus (COVID-19): ‘Zoom’ application boon or bane. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3606716. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3606716. Accessed 8 July 2020

  24. What is Zoom and how does it work? Plus tips and tricks. https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/151426-what-is-zoom-and-how-does-it-work-plus-tips-and-tricks. Accessed 8 July 2020

  25. Pentagon Issues New Guidance on Zoom Use. https://www.voanews.com/silicon-valley-technology/pentagon-issues-new-guidance-zoom-use?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dlvr.it. Accessed 8 July 2020

  26. US Senate, German government tell staff not to use Zoom. https://www.zdnet.com/article/us-senate-german-government-tell-staff-not-to-use-zoom/. Accessed 8 July 2020

  27. Taiwan instructs government agencies not to use Zoom. https://www.zdnet.com/article/taiwan-instructs-government-agencies-not-to-use-zoom/. Accessed 8 July 2020

  28. MOE suspends use of Zoom in home-based learning following breaches involving obscene images. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/moe-suspends-zoom-home-based-learning-obscene-images-12626534. Accessed 8 July 2020

  29. Zoom CEO responds to security and privacy concerns: ‘We had some missteps’. https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/5/21208636/zoom-ceo-yuan-security-privacy-concerns. Accessed 8 July 2020

  30. What users are saying about Webex Meeting vs Zoom. https://www.trustradius.com/compare-products/cisco-webex-meetings-vs-zoom#:~:text=Webex%20Meetings%20and%20Zoom%20have,to%2040%20minutes%20per%20meeting. Accessed 8 July 2020

  31. Microsoft: Welcome to Microsoft Teams (2018). https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-overview. Accessed 8 July 2020

  32. Erickson, J., Siau, K.: Education. Commun. ACM 46(9), 134–140 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Siau, K.: Education in the age of artificial intelligence: how will technology shape learning? Glob. Anal. 7(3), 22–24 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Siau, K., Messersmith, J.: Analyzing ERP implementation at a public university using the innovation strategy model. Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact. 16(1), 57–80 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Siau, K.: Human-computer interaction-the effect of application domain knowledge on icon interpretation. J. Comput. Inf. Syst. 45(3), 53–62 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Siau, K., Sheng, H., Nah, F.: Use of a classroom response system to enhance classroom interactivity. IEEE Trans. Educ. 49(3), 398–403 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Siau, K., Wang, W.: Building trust in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics. Cutter Bus. Technol. J. 31(2), 47–53 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Siau, K., Shen, Z.: Building customer trust in mobile commerce. Commun. ACM 46(4), 91–94 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Wang, W., Siau, K.: Artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, robotics, future of work, and future of humanity – a review and research agenda. J. Database Manag. 30(1), 61–79 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Siau, K., Wang, W.: Artificial intelligence (AI) ethics – ethics of AI and ethical AI. J. Database Manag. 31(2), 74–87 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Stephanidis, C., et al.: Seven HCI grand challenges. Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact. 35(14), 1229–1269 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, USA

    Cui Zou, Wangchuchu Zhao & Keng Siau

Authors
  1. Cui Zou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wangchuchu Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Keng Siau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cui Zou .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Crete and Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Constantine Stephanidis

  2. Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Margherita Antona

  3. Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Stavroula Ntoa

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Zou, C., Zhao, W., Siau, K. (2020). COVID-19 Pandemic: A Usability Study on Platforms to Support eLearning. In: Stephanidis, C., Antona, M., Ntoa, S. (eds) HCI International 2020 – Late Breaking Posters. HCII 2020. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1294. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60703-6_43

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60703-6_43

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-60702-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-60703-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation