Searching for usability in the forum search I saw that most of the postings relates to single features. But there are also problems I saw with users caused by different use of functions at several places
I know this is not exactly the correct forum to discuss this topic, but I didn't find a better one. I would like to know more about other observations of usability problems. If we have a collection of such topics we can check how to change features and to discuss it with the developers.
In most cases users (students and teachers) can use basic functions of Moodle without additional explanations if they know something about the standard processes. But we can make Moodle better over the next time.
Some basic rules for usability I can define from my observations:
- Use same desription for same or similiar functions at several places
- Place similar functions at the same places
- Use same basic functions at all places
- Use logical ways and directions
Some examples:
- File handling in Moodle file system
Most users click at the field on the left side of the line to mark a file or click at the file name. The correct use to choose a file is to click at "Choose" in the column action. - Users don't understand that they have to click the boxes to delete, move or zip files.
- File handling in the editor works in an other way like in the moodle file system. Here you have to click on the files name to mark the file for use.
- Editing quizzes and questions.
The work process is from top right (editing categories), middle right (creating questions), right side down (selecting questions for quizzes) to left column (final design of the quiz design). Normally we use a process from left-to-right and top-down. Here is the way top-right to down-right to left side. This direction is not very intuitiv to use. I know left-to-right is only normally in western culture. In arabic countries right-to-left is normally used. - Editing quiz questions.
The quiz questions have an excellent feedback system. But the number of feedback options are also a problem. Most users can't see on the first view which field are for answers an which are for feedback. That confuses them. Editing quiz questions in an LMS is a difficult situations for most teacher. They have to do explicit what they mostly do intuitive while creating quizzes. I saw that they normally only define questions in standard teaching situations without an LMS. Now they have to do lots of things while creating the quiz they normally do while grading on paper. This are defining the correct, partially correct and incorrect answers, defining the grades and points and the feedback text. Moodle offers now three different feedback types for a single MC questions. The functions and features of quizzes are excellent, but we need a better visual orientation. Moving the general feedback field after the definition of answers could be a first step. From a teachers point of view the answering options after more important than the feedback texts. The feedbacks texts are bigger than the answering fields. So it seems that they are more important. That confuses and don't support the orientation. - Default settings for activities and blocks
In website administration we can set defaults for lots of functions on the settings pages of activities and blocks, but not for all - Hiding advanced features on activity setting pages
This feature is only available for quizzes. Why not for all modules. - Handling of passwords or keywords at several places
There are several places we define password or keywords (profile, quiz settings, lesson settings, course settings). But not at all places it works in the same way. In lesson you can't see a formerly defined password if you update the settings, the field is empty. At most of the other fields you can choose to show a hidden key-/password or the exact entry.
What are other usability problems students, teacher and admins have`?
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