Development of a usability-optimised design concept in the context of an e-learning application for students in the field of data science
Authors: Labude Susan , Breck Dominik , Schlosser Max , Marbach Alexander , Roschke Christian 
Published: July 2022

This paper is situated in the field of human-machine interaction and particularly deals with the user-centred development of a design concept for an e-learning solution in the domain of data science. The focus of the development lies on usability.Over the last few years there has been a shift from traditional teaching-learning scenarios to software-based e-learning solutions. This transformation has resulted in different challenges in a wide range of subject domains. One of the most difficult challenges is to keep students motivated in using these systems. Especially the area of human-machine interaction offers versatile approaches for improving student motivation.At the Institute for Computer Science and Media in Research and Transfer (CSMRT) at the University of Applied Sciences Mittweida, it is planned to implement an e-learning solution that will enable students to independently acquire knowledge in the field of data science. In order to ensure a high level of acceptance regarding the platform, the design should aim for the best possible usability.In recent years, a wide range of research has been conducted on increasing student motivation in e-learning applications. However, a generalised solution to the problem cannot be found, as students from different disciplines have varying requirements concerning this type of system. Therefore, teaching-learning scenarios need to be specified for the purpose of the research in order to be able to investigate specific requirements for the given designs. In this paper, the target group of the application is limited to students at University of Applied Sciences Mittweida from STEM-related fields of study. Specifically, the domain of data science will be considered. The aim is the student-oriented development of a design concept for the implementation of an e-learning tool aimed at imparting knowledge in the field of data science. In doing so, precise design requirements will be defined, which have not yet been investigated in the context of data science.The development of the design concept will be carried out in a user-centred way and on the basis of standardised specifications and norms in the field of human-machine interaction and usability. Consideration of the students' needs is of particular relevance here. Therefore, students should be involved in the entire development process and help to shape it. This student-oriented development is intended to contribute to the highest possible adaptation of the design to the later user group. The aim is to create a design that is as user-friendly as possible. This should increase the motivation towards using the application.As part of the paper, an evaluation concept will be developed to assess the usability of the resulting design. Just like the development process, the evaluation focuses on students. Since the project is currently in the conceptual phase, the evaluation will be carried out using a paper prototype. The results will serve as a base for an iterative process of implementing and evaluating the application.