The evaluation of Emerald-emit e-learning materials with respect to their suitability for use in the delivery of the biomedical physics component of diagnostic radiography curricula.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the EMERALD-EMIT e-Learning multimedia materials with respect to their suitability for use in the delivery of the biomedical physics component of diagnostic radiography curricula for First Cycle diagnostic radiography education and to develop and use a tool to carry out an initial assessment of the EMERALDEMIT multimedia package 'Physics of Diagnostic Radiology'. Methodology: The study involved the development and evaluation of heuristic-based utility and usability assessment instruments derived directly from prior research results in the published literature regarding the assessment of utility and usability, guidelines for effective e-learning design, and curriculum development in First Cycle radiography education. Since the developed instrument was intended for the assessment of e-learning by radiography educational practitioners, the opinions of three radiography educators was also sought to pilot and evaluate the instrument. The instrument was piloted on the 'Physics of Diagnostic Radiology' multimedia package. Results and Conclusions: This study produced the first utility and usability assessment instrument targeted to evaluating multimedia packages for first cycle diagnostic radiography education. The instrument was found to have a high degree of validity (validity coefficient index = 85%) and inter-rater reliability (R= +0.8 for utility and R= +0.7 for usability). The EMERALD-EMIT multimedia package was found to have a high utility score for relevance of content (88%) and suitability for curriculum delivery (82%), and a medium utility score for quality of instructional design (65%) and quality of content (56%). The package has a medium usability score for learnability (66%) and satisfaction (66%) and a low usability score for error prevention (47%), efficiency (34%) and retainability (19%).