Abstract. This paper summarizes two studies and the contemporary literature on the design and construction of effective and efficient Computer Based Learning (CBL) environments. There is adequate evidence on Distance Learning environments, however CBL environments provide some special characteristics that separate them from their Distance counterparts, while they have to adhere to educational principles, as they are mainly educational environments. So, firstly these similarities and differences are emphasized under the educational view. Secondly, the contemporary educational research on such environments is provided and the studies made in this area are briefly described. The objective of this paper is to conclude to a set of design and construction guidelines for environments of this kind, as they emerged from the studies and contemporary trends in the field. So, these guidelines are presented and some issues of interest for further research on the domain are discussed.

Abstract. Research for the evaluation of web-sites has already begun, however it is proceeding at a very slow rate. The main reasons for this are, in our opinion, the attempt to adapt existing methodologies to the particularities of the web, the individual structure of web-sites and the issue of finding the appropriate evaluators. This study copes exactly with these points and suggests a heuristic approach for the evaluation of web-sites. In our study we tried primarily to train the evaluators in the particularities of the heuristic evaluation; in its classic form as well as in its web-adapted form. By doing this we try to answer the core question if we can augment the evaluators ’ expertise with a kind of training prior to the conduction of the evaluation itself. Next we used web-adapted heuristics, found in relative literature and tried to clarify them to the evaluators as well. Finally the evaluators were involved in a real evaluation of five web sites and they wrote down their comments on appropriately prepared questionnaires. The results from this study confirm firstly two known conclusions, that the method is applicable to the Web and that the prior evaluators ’ expertise is of great importance. Yet, in addition to these, we concluded that it is possible to augment, under conditions, this expertise in a short way so they have an increased performance during the evaluation as well. Our main conclusion is, however, that the used heuristic list performed inadequately, but we noted the trend of the evaluators following a somewhat similar mode of thinking, thus providing us with the way to adapt these heuristics in a more holistic approach to the web. Key words: user interface evaluation, usability, heuristic evaluation, web evaluation. 1.

Internet and multimedia for teaching and learning A case study of using web-based services in higher education

The Augmented Representation of Cultural Objects (ARCO) system provides software and interface tools to museum curators to develop virtual museum exhibitions, as well as a virtual environment for museum visitors over the World Wide Web or in informative kiosks. The main purpose of the system is to offer an enhanced educative and entertaining experience to virtual museum visitors. In order to assess the usability of the system, two approaches have been employed: a questionnaire based survey and a Cognitive Walkthrough session. Both approaches employed expert evaluators, such as domain experts and usability experts. The result of this study show a fair performance of the followed approach, as regards the consumed time, financial and other resources, as a great deal of usability problems has been uncovered and many aspects of the system have been investigated. The knowledge gathered aims at creating a conceptual framework for diagnose usability problems in systems in the area of virtual Cultural Heritage.