Essential issues for the Design of Open Learning Environments emerging from a field evaluation study

This study presents a framework for the evaluation of open learning environments integrating methodologies both from Education and from Human Computer Interaction. This framework emphasize, the role of field studies using real students, the formation of hypotheses using qualitative methodologies to analyze the field data and task analytic methodologies namely: Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) and Goals, Operators, Methods and Selection Rules (GOMS) which are representative methodologies as interpreted in the constructivist context of learning. In this framework a case study regarding the evaluation of an open learning environment is also presented. The results that emerged from this study document the role of the constructed evaluation framework in illuminating essential learning and usability issues regarding the design of open learning environments. These issues can help designers to form a more student centered view in the design of such environments.