Considering user knowledge in the evaluation of training system usability

Abstract

A variety of software-based systems are being used as training media. There is not, however, an accepted approach to evaluating the usability of these systems. Traditional usability approaches can be employed with some effectiveness, but they may lack appropriate specificity for use in training. In this paper, we evaluate whether assessing, and remediating, gaps in learner knowledge might be an important addition to training system evaluation. The results suggest that remediating knowledge gaps might lead to more accurate usability conclusions. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.