An industrial designer’s approach to a virtual learning environment

Abstract

Widened access and lifelong learning trends in modern education require that web-based Learning Environments be designed as student-centred education and support mechanisms. Many Virtual Learning Environments are encumbered by a steep learning curve detrimental to their full employment. Students with lower levels of computer literacy struggle particularly. This paper reports: 1) the way in which the traditional Industrial design techniques are used to create virtual Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) which can be used "instinctively" by students with lower levels of computer literacy; 2) a case study of the design of a multi-media learning environment examines the ways in which mutually reinforcing learning methods can be utilised to place students at the centre of universities learning policies, allow efficient information storage and retrieval; and on 3) the potential for future development of such systems.