The Impact of Findability on Student Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Perceptions of Online Course Quality

This study investigated whether “findability,” an aspect of usability, is an important component in student perceptions of/satisfaction with online courses and, as such, should be considered more heavily in online course design. Using standard usability testing measures, such as eye-tracking, time-on-task, and think-alouds, participants were asked to find essential course components in either a course with high findability or a modified version of the course with low findability in order to determine the impact on student perceptions of course quality and experience. Participants rated those courses with high findability as a better overall experience (based on five dimensions). Additionally, this study was intended to begin the process of linking findability to student achievement of learning outcomes by using pre- and posttest measures of motivation and self-efficacy and evaluating how they are affected by findability. Students reported lower levels of self-efficacy and motivation after interacting with...