Hybrid user centered development methodology: An application to educational software development

Abstract

This paper describes a Hybrid User Centered Development Methodology (HUCDM). This is a simple, iterative and incremental development process that has as building blocks the principles of User Centered Design (UCD), specified in the International Organization for Standardization 9241-210. In its base lies the disciplined structure of development processes as well as practices and values from agile software development methods. The process consists of four main phases: planning, design, implementation and maintenance/ operation. The prototyping and evaluation are carried out across the entire process. The HUCDM was implemented in an Educational Software Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) developer. The first feature based on this methodology was Courseware Sere. The quality of this educational resource has been internationally recognized. This Courseware was finalist in the national contest of multimedia products and thus got the interest of multinational companies such as BP - British Petroleum, which financed a new phase for the product development.