Sander
My first question would be to ask why you want to do it. In other words
"What is the problem to which a redesign of the user interface for the
VLE is a solution?"
The other thing to be wary of is that this is not a "Russian Pencil"
problem. Someone recently mentioned this at a meeting or conference
(sorry I can' remember who and give you credit).
During the space race the Americans spent millions to design a pen that
could work in zero gravity. The Russians bought each of their
astronauts a pencil. Undoubtedly the Papermate pen (a spin-off from the
above mentioned) offers a superior writing experience to a pencil, but
was it worth all those millions?
Steve
Stephen Clarke
Head of eLearning
Information Services
University of Birmingham
Birmingham
B15 2TT
+44 (0)121 414 4736
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-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Web Master
Sent: 24 May 2006 14:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VLES] Web Application Task Orientated Design Approach
Hello there,
I've got a question regarding task orientated web application design
(I'm responsible for redesigning the interface of a VLE).
There are two ways to step through a task:
choose what you want to do
do the task (get rewarded)
then place it where it you want
(do something, then think about where it ends up)
or
choose where you want to do something
then what you want to do
then do the task (get rewarded)
(database approach)
The current VLE favours the second method, which I find
counter-intuitive. When I ask to myself: what do I want to do - I answer
for example add a news article. I don't answer add something to a
course.
That's why in the new VLE I thought it was logical and most intuitive to
use the first method. Add a news article, then select course. This means
you start out from a selection of tasks. I think this follows the
thought process best (non disruptive) and therefore would be easier to
use.
However the current VLE starts out from a selection of courses /modules,
then present the relevant tasks. I think this can simplify the interface
(as irrelevant options won't be shown), but then might be harder to use.
With the first option you get rewarded earlier in the process (as your
task is completed quickly), motivating the user.
These are the reasons the decision was made to go for this route.
However this means the user isn't bothered about where it ends up and
the course /module is chosen afterwards, this effects the interface.
Is there any literature that can deny or verify my view?
Best Regards,
Sander van Dragt
Web Designer
Angus College
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