Date of Award

2005

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science Honours

Faculty

Faculty of Computing, Health and Science

First Supervisor

Dr Justin Brown

Abstract

Customisation is the means by which people alter and change various elements of their environment with the purpose of making it more suited to their immediate needs. This aids in creating a more personalised experience. People are extremely diverse in terms of age, gender, nationality, and with the dominant presence of technology people also have various levels of computer skills and experience. In the context of computer environments, customisation provides the ability to cater for a diverse user group, providing tools and options that assist with specific tasks, improve accessibility and achieve greater user satisfaction. Carter, MacLean, Lovstard & Moran (1990) claim that allowing a user to customise their system to match their personal work practices proves to be a useful technique. Various educational institutions are employing course management systems (CMS) to streamline and help carry out tasks involved in managing a large course. Students are also required to utilise the CMS in order to carry out various tasks associated with the study demands of their course. There is a variety of literature that discusses the types of customisable features that could be employed in a CMS; however there is no recommendation as to which of these features should be implemented. An analysis of end user preference toward customisable features offered a deeper understanding of the diversity of end user needs and the discovery of specific customisable features that are preferred by the student end user population.

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