The important elements of LMS design that affect user engagement with e-learning tools within LMSs in the higher education sector

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><span lang="EN-US">In recent years, universities have been under increased pressure to adopt e-learning practices for teaching and learning. In particular, the emphasis has been on learning management systems (LMSs) and associated collaboration tools to provide opportunities for sharing knowledge, building a community of learners, and supporting higher order learning and critical thinking through conversation and collaboration. Due to the greater level of</span><span lang="EN-GB"> data continuity, reliability, and privacy that LMSs can provide compared to the available free applications, LMSs are still the central platform for many universities to deliver e-learning. Therefore, it is vital to investigate the LMS structure requisites that affect user engagement. This paper focuses on the important LMS design factors that influence user engagement with e-learning tools within LMSs. Results were extracted from 74 interviews about Blackboard with students and lecturers within a major Australian university. </span>A user-friendly structure, avoidance of too many tools and links, support for privacy and anonymous posting, and more customisable student-centred tools were identified as LMS design factors that affect user engagement<span lang="EN-US">.</span></p>