Evaluating the Usability and Learnability of the "Blackboard" LMS Using SUS and Data Mining

Abstract

Learning management systems (LMSs) provide integrated platforms of various technologies to support instructors and students. Usability evaluation is an essential factor to measure how well technology works for users. The aim of this study is to examine the usability of the LMS in King Abdulaziz University by using some pre-defined usability standards, such as a system usability scale (SUS) questionnaire. A further investigation used data mining techniques (sentiment analysis and clustering) in order to find out the details of any usability problems. The results show that distance education students suffer the most, followed by external students. On the other hand, instructors seem to have a less negative attitude than students towards Blackboard. Overall, the usability of LMSs at KAU is inadequate and needs to be enhanced for all types of users by customising blackboard according to each group.