Aug 27 - Rigas & Alseid, Multi-Modal Aided Presentation of Learning Info: A Usability Comparative Study

MULTI-MODAL AIDED PRESENTATION OF LEARNING INFORMATION: A USABILITY COMPARATIVE STUDY.
Dimitris Rigas and Marwan Alseid. Department of Computing, School of Informatics, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, England.
IADIS International Conference Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction 2008. pg 234-238
ISBN: 978-972-8924-59-1 © 2008 IADIS


Abstract
This paper presents a comparative two-group experimental study to explore if the addition of multimodal interaction metaphors would enhance the usability of e-learning interfaces. Two independent groups of users were involved in the experiment each of which tested one of the two interface versions provided by the experimental e-learning tool. The first interface was based on textual approach in delivering learning information about class diagram notation. In the second interface, recorded speech, earcons and avatar with simple facial expressions were combined to present the same information. Efficiency, effectiveness, and user satisfaction were considered to evaluate the usability of both interfaces. This paper reports and discusses results in regard to effectiveness only. Results of the experiment showed that users of the multimodal-based interface significantly performed more successful tasks than their counterparts who used the text-based interface. Therefore, adding audio visual interaction metaphors to the interface of e-learning applications can improve its usability.


The use of computer networks and machines in the learning process resulted in the appearance of what is called e-learning (Alexander 2001; Mikic and Anido 2006) and the continuous development of information and communication technology (ICT) caused an accelerated development in educational technology. As a result, e-learning becomes a vast area of research and technologies used in the development of e-learning applications have been increased (Hamilton, Richards et al. 2001) where mobile devices such as cell phones, PDAs and Tablet PCs were involved in mobile learning (Mikic and Anido 2006).
E-learning has many advantages. For example, a consistent presentation of the same learning materials and skills could be offered without limitations of time and location (Mikic and Anido 2006).

Conclusion
This paper reported an empirical two-group study that investigated the use of multimodal interaction metaphors for delivering learning information in the interface of e-learning applications. The aim of the study was to compare the usability between two different e-learning interfaces of the experimental tool. The first interface was non-multimodal based essentially on textual approach and tested by the control group of users, and the second one incorporated a combination of multimodal metaphors such as recorded speech, earcons along with avatar and tested by the experimental group. The results showed that the involvement of both visual and auditory metaphors as employed in the experimental interface had significantly improved the effectiveness of the e-learning interface. Therefore, it was believed that users’ ability to remember the communicated information could be enhanced when these information are presented by the aid of multimodal metaphors.

My Action: Search and read Rigas' PhD thesis as in belowmentioned References.

References that I may read further in the future:
Dix, A., G. Abowd, et al. (2004). Human-Computer Interaction (3rd Edition). Prentice Hall.
Govindasamy, T. (2001). "Successful implementation of e-Learning Pedagogical considerations." The Internet and Higher Education 4(3-4): 287-299.
Mikic, F. and L. Anido (2006). "Towards a Standard for Mobile E-Learning." International Conference on Systems and International Conference on Mobile Communications and Learning Technologies, 2006. ICN/ICONS/MCL 2006. International Conference on Networking: 217-222.
Sheth, R. (2003). "Avatar Technology: Giving a Face to the e-Learning Interface." The eLearning Developers’ Journal.
Rigas, D. and D. Hopwood (2003). "The Role of Multimedia in Interfaces for On-Line Learning." 9th Panhellenic Conference on Informatics (PCI'2003). , Thessaloniki, Greece.
Rigas, D. I. (1996). Guidelines for Auditory Interface Design: An Empirical Investigation, PhD thesis, Loughborough University of Technology.
Rigas, D. I. and J. L. Alty (1998). "Using sound to communicate program execution." Proceedings of the 24th EUROMICRO Conference 2: 625–632.