Usability and e-learning: the road towards integration

Usability is basic parameter for the evaluation of e-learning technologies and systems. Usability means quality and puts the users and their real needs in the center. Therefore investigation of usability and its integration or contribution to learning process is worthwhile. In this article several questions, regarding usability definition and usability evaluation techniques for e-learning, are raised. In addition several relevant research works are briefly reviewed and the need for more focused research efforts and empirical validation is stressed. In conclusion it is proposed that a usability evaluation technique for elearning has to satisfy three basic prerequisites/characteristics in order to be easily adopted and used.