Interactive media for learning (IML): Assuring usability in terms of a learning context

Abstract

On account of competence-led market demands, it is important that employees gain new knowledge efficiently. One solution is to set-up IT-based courses using interactive media for learning (IML) so that employees can learn at their workplace and also learn as a part of their ordinary work. Choosing technology as a media for learning is not simply chosen for its own sake rather because it is more efficient for the task. However, for a number of reasons, it is becoming increasingly difficult to assess the efficient use of technology. Thus there are needs for processes to quality assure usability or even to create a process to certify usability. Before this is possible a number of issues have to be resolved. All issues are fundamental to assure usability. We address each issue in our paper. The purpose of this paper is to review current approaches to quality assurance as applied in the field of IML. This paper discusses the difficulties of distinguishing between learning and usability in an IML context. We discuss quality-assuring usability in terms of learning and we outline a certification process for IML in terms of usability. Our concluding remarks indicate possible future research directions. © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited