Using eye tracking to map behaviors in an online course prototype about epilepsy

Abstract

Human-computer interaction (HCI) design has its main focus on the needs of users, an approach known as user-centered design. Designing online courses is a field of human-computer research that integrates ubiquitous technology, cognition and design. The development of an online course is prototype-driven. Unfortunately, there is a lack of documented methods for assessing the design of a prototype course before it is presented to students. This paper should contribute to this need by proposing a method for evaluating online course designs based on eye tracking data, which can significantly help designers in analysing the public’s behavior. Some of these measures include content fixation points, gaze position, duration and blink rate. Designers can also gather data about how stressed out or relaxed the test users are, how attentive they are and how they solve problems. Affectivity can also be measured and this can be used to create a more customized environment for content acquisition and learning. In this paper we set out to: (1) describe the general methodology of using eye tracking to design and evaluate an online course prototype (2) discuss interaction design challenges related to this methodology and its limitations. In order to guide our discussion we will refer to an actual ongoing online course project about epilepsy that will be used to train schoolteachers.