It takes a lot of effort to make an app or online course intuitive. Simple doesn’t mean it’s intuitive, it may just mean it’s mundane. But, simple, along with stepping into the student’s shoes, is the first step to an intuitive design.
How to make an online course intuitive? Take an online course. Note what you like and don’t like about it. If, for example, you couldn’t find the assigned readings, the quiz, or where to drop an assignment, how would you resolve that for your students? Incorporate this solution into your own course design.
I write this because of my experience with Xodo, a PDF reader app. At ever turn I think, wow, that is just what I needed to complete my readings, find my annotations and citations, or share across devices. As a student, it was the pinnacle of intuitive and thorough. The designers knew exactly what tools I needed, when I needed them, and where I would look for them.
Xodo was created by students (or recent students) for students and whomever else would like to benefit from an exceptional, and intuitive PDF reader. It is seamless and has all the features any student, from high school to PhD, would find essential to make their learning more enjoyable and effective.
Take Xodo for a test drive and see how a tool, either an app or LMS course, can be designed effectively when looked at from a student’s perspective and keeping their needs in mind. You would think Adobe Reader would put Xodo to shame, but I feel Reader developers should go back and take a few online courses if they would like to win over the student market.
HKKS Education 