Usability heuristics for mobile learning applications

Heuristic evaluation is a fast and easy way to detect usability problems. Nielsen (1994) proposed ten heuristics that are being widely used to conduct heuristic evaluation. Utilizing these heuristics for mobile learning applications is not very effective because they are generic and were not developed taking mobile devices into consideration. In this research new heuristics were developed to extend Nielsen (1994) heuristics to support heuristic evaluation of mobile learning applications. Sixteen usability studies on mobile learning applications were retrieved from the literature, the listed usability problems were analyzed and three new heuristics were developed. The validation results indicate that using newly developed heuristics allow evaluators to detect more usability problems while evaluating mobile learning applications.

[1]  Tom Carey,et al.  ACM SIGCHI Curricula for Human-Computer Interaction , 1992 .

[2]  Jakob Nielsen,et al.  Chapter 4 – The Usability Engineering Lifecycle , 1993 .

[3]  Bimal Aklesh Kumar,et al.  Usability guideline for mobile learning apps: an empirical study , 2016, Int. J. Mob. Learn. Organisation.

[4]  Ahmad Sobri Hashim,et al.  A Comparison of Architectures for a Usability-Aware Customized Mobile Learning Management System (CMLMS) , 2012, 2012 Sixth UKSim/AMSS European Symposium on Computer Modeling and Simulation.

[5]  Tao Wang,et al.  Case study of usability testing methodology on mobile learning course , 2011 .

[6]  Patrick W. Jordan,et al.  An Introduction to Usability , 1998 .

[7]  Jakob Nielsen,et al.  Heuristic evaluation of user interfaces , 1990, CHI '90.

[8]  Mihai Onita,et al.  Usability Evaluation of a LMS Mobile Web Interface , 2012, ICIST.

[9]  David Pinelle,et al.  Heuristic evaluation for games: usability principles for video game design , 2008, CHI.

[10]  Shamina Hussein,et al.  Heuristic Based User Interface Evaluation of Mobile Money Application: A Case Study , 2014, Int. J. Handheld Comput. Res..

[11]  Rohiza Ahmad,et al.  Mobile learning course content application as a revision tool: The effectiveness and usability , 2011, 2011 International Conference on Pattern Analysis and Intelligence Robotics.

[12]  Derek Flood,et al.  Usability of mobile applications: literature review and rationale for a new usability model , 2013, Journal of Interaction Science.

[13]  Saide Jorge Calil,et al.  Applying Heuristic Evaluation on Medical Devices User Manuals , 2015 .

[14]  Carl Gutwin,et al.  Usability heuristics for networked multiplayer games , 2009, GROUP.

[15]  V. Braun,et al.  Using thematic analysis in psychology , 2006 .

[16]  Susan Bull,et al.  Evaluation of a mobile learning organiser for university students , 2005, J. Comput. Assist. Learn..

[17]  Brett Wilkinson,et al.  Preliminary usability testing of ClaMApp: a classroom management app for tablets , 2016, OZCHI.

[18]  Cristian Rusu,et al.  How to develop usability heuristics: A systematic literature review , 2017, Comput. Stand. Interfaces.

[19]  Tiziana Catarci,et al.  Appropriating Heuristic Evaluation for Mobile Computing , 2009, Int. J. Mob. Hum. Comput. Interact..

[20]  Azizah Jaafar,et al.  Heuristics evaluation in computer games , 2010, 2010 International Conference on Information Retrieval & Knowledge Management (CAMP).

[21]  Lim Ean Heng,et al.  End user's perspective of usability in mobile learning system , 2012, 2012 International Conference on Computer & Information Science (ICCIS).

[22]  Zahid Hussain,et al.  Evaluating Usability of M-Learning Application in the Context of Higher Education Institute , 2016, HCI.

[23]  Ahmad Sobri Hashim,et al.  Usability Study of Mobile Learning Course Content Application as a Revision Tool , 2011, IVIC.

[24]  Wayne D. Gray,et al.  Damaged Merchandise? A Review of Experiments That Compare Usability Evaluation Methods , 1998, Hum. Comput. Interact..

[25]  Jang Ho Lee.  Development and Usability Assessment of Tablet-Based Synchronous Mobile Learning System , 2014 .

[26]  Johanna M. Silvennoinen,et al.  Introducing usability heuristics for mobile map applications , 2013 .

[27]  Jakob Nielsen,et al.  Usability engineering , 1997, The Computer Science and Engineering Handbook.

[28]  Joel S. Mtebe,et al.  Heuristics for evaluating usability of Learning Management Systems in Africa , 2015, 2015 IST-Africa Conference.

[29]  Mona Masood,et al.  The Usability of Mobile Applications for Pre-schoolers , 2015 .

[30]  Jaime Sánchez,et al.  Mobile science learning for the blind , 2008, CHI Extended Abstracts.

[31]  Cheryl Geisler,et al.  Heuristics for Broader Assessment of Effectiveness and Usability in Technology-Mediated Technical Communication , 2013 .

[32]  Majlinda Fetaji,et al.  Comparing developed MLUAT (mobile learning usability attribute testing) methodology with qualitative user testing method and heuristics evaluation , 2011, CompSysTech '11.

[33]  H. Zhang,et al.  Development of a mobile learning model with usability features for online education , 2008, Int. J. Mob. Learn. Organisation.

[34]  Jaime Sánchez,et al.  mGuides, Design and Usability of a Mobile System to Assist Learning in Critical Situations , 2011, HCI.