Evaluating Usability in a Distance Digital Systems Laboratory Class

This paper presents the usability evaluation of a digital systems laboratory class offered to distance-learning students. It details the way in which students can participate remotely in such a laboratory, the methodology employed in the usability assessment of the laboratory infrastructure (hardware and software), and also outlines the main findings and lessons learned. It has been shown that the setting up of such a laboratory requires careful design, pilot runs, and formal evaluation prior to scaling up for a large number of students in order to both foresee usability flaws in the infrastructure and ensure educational quality.