Abstract:

E-learning (viz. electronic learning) is the use of electronic media to support learning purposes and the attainment of educational objectives. The goal of E-learning is to enable students to learn at their own pace, time, and without the restriction to the classroom. Some of the concrete aspects of E-learning initiatives include virtual campus, on-line courses, telelearning, distance learning, and virtual learning. However, in order to derive maximum benefits from E-Learning, E-learning system platforms must be subjected to credible usability evaluation that will provide useful insight into the good attributes and weaknesses of such platforms from the users’ perspective. Heuristic evaluation is a discount usability technique that facilitates the assessment of web-based platforms in an efficient way without incurring the cost of a full-scale usability study. In this paper, we present findings from the heuristic evaluation of the moodle-based e-learning platform of a Nigerian University, by using a set of customized heuristics. The result of the study clearly identified areas of strength and the weaknesses in the E-learning platform that needs to be improved. The study adds to the body of extant knowledge in the area of discount usability evaluation of e-learning platforms in African-based institutions.

Keywords:

e-learning, heuristic evaluation, Moodle, Web-based learning, discount usability evaluation.