Abstract:

For the past few years the universities all around the world have been implementing a lot of changes in the area of distance learning, common access to Internet and new learning methods. Those changes have been enforced by the market, which is based on knowledge, constant development and learning. Traditional learning shaped its standards through centuries, while e-learning, which is a modern science, requires constant research and practice that would enable to set up new standards and quality in a short time. Achieving this aim will result in increased satisfaction of students and other users of distance learning via Internet. This article presents possible methodology of assessing quality of usability of distance learning system – focusing on measuring user’s satisfaction.
As a part of research on creating new methodology and identifying factors in accordance with practical quality standards, there have been conducted two Internet surveys. The surveys examined a specially selected group of students of Wroclaw College of Finance and Management who attended internet Health and Safety course. Survey forms were created according to existing research on psychometric tests and case studies on measuring user’s satisfaction using knowledge management systems.
Detailed research included: scale development, removing incorrect elements from a test (purification) and identifying accuracy of measurement with the use of factor analysis. The research helped setting up the scale and extent of analyzed users’ satisfaction. The test used has also been verified by comparing it (finding similarities or discrepancies) with other tests and external criteria (external validity), which all together make the test a reliable tool that can be used by other researchers to measure required feature. The test has also been verified in respect of its theoretical (construct) validity, which became one of the criteria for assessing its overall usefulness in APA/AERA/NCME standards.

Keywords:

user satisfaction, e-learning, quality.