Making your module usable for students

Usability concerns the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of a specified users' interaction with a system to achieve a task in a particular context of use (ISO, 2018). In the the context of the university’s digital learning experience, usability concerns the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of student’s interaction with Blackboard Ultra to achieve the module’s learning objectives.

Applying Usability principles to your module

Label items clearly in language that is meaningful to your students and descriptive of the content and purpose and/or task.

In the example below we’ve consistently used folders for lecture materials and learning modules for workshops, each is clearly labelled with the week, the delivery type (lecture or workshop), topic and description.

Use a hierarchical structure, this will help students find content quickly.
Be consistent in structure and language in and between modules.

Using a consistent hierarchical content structure in your module and replicating this throughout the course will help students find their learning and assessment materials efficiently and effectively.

In the example below, we’ve used a consistent hierarchical structure for assignments creating two folders, one for each submission then placing guidance and dropboxes within each folder, using similar intuitive labelling for each item.

Example of user-friendly structure and naming conventions for folders

Ensure your content can be easily located through search, Activity Stream and through Course Content view and where applicable, in Discussions and Gradebook view.

In the example below, using clear, intuitive labelling of items allow students to find content out of context of the course structure.

Remember discussions and assignments will appear in two places, in the Course Content and under the Discussions and Gradebook tabs respectively, check if the name is meaningful outside the context of the course content view:

Test out the student experience of your module with Student Preview, on desktop and mobile.

According to the university’s latest JISC Digital Experience survey, 77% students regularly use a smartphone to access their Blackboard learning materials.

Provide links to Digital Services helpdesk, Blackboard student support and share preferred method and time for contact with staff.

Provide these with the up-to-date module handbook and reading list inside the Module Information folder.