PERCEIVED USABILITY EVALUATION OF VIRTUAL PLATFORMS

Abstract

The goal of this research study is to perceive the usability of (Zoom and Microsoft Teams) in the perspective of online learning. Perceived usability has a significant impact on students learning ability and overall students learning experience, and it is an important requirement of virtual learning software. Since the last two years due to covid-19 pandemic physical shutdown to all types of activities like (Education, Business) across the world. Physical classroom teaching environment has shifted to “Online Learning” mode or all types of physical activities has shifted to online mode. In this view, perceive the usability of online learning platforms (Zoom meetings, Microsoft Teams) that commonly being used is an important aspect, specifically in the absence of physical classrooms or other physical activities. Throughout this research, (Zoom meetings, Microsoft Teams) virtual platforms used as the reference platforms to perceive the usability. A dual strategy is used for platform evaluation; System Usability Scale (SUS) tool that is a Human Computer Interaction (HCI) based approach and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) being an Information Systems (IS) based approach. Both of these tools are very common in their domains; however, they have not been considered as one work for the usability evaluation. Thereby, this research work attempts to restructure and combine the process of usability evaluation. Results that are collected from a largescale survey of virtual platforms users; college, university students and faculty show us the similarity and comparison between the two methods, with the Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) construct of TAM having greater similarity with SUS. The results also proved the validity and reliability of SUS for evaluating the virtual platform, as well as the fact that it remains consistent even with small sample population. Very few studies have deployed SUS to examine the perceived usefulness of online Learning Systems.