Enhancing Accessibility of Learning Analytics System User Interface: A Case Study

In recent years, the integration of learning analytics (LA) dashboards into learning management systems (LMS) has provided valuable insights into user learning behaviors and outcomes. As the primary point of interaction between users and LA systems, the user interface (UI) plays a crucial role in determining the overall user experience (UX) and consequently influences the acceptance and success of an LA system. Inaccessible UI may result in users not accepting the LA system as a valuable aid for enhancing learning and teaching. However, the UI of many LA dashboards in general may remain inaccessible to users with diverse, special needs, particularly those with disabilities. This paper presents a case study of redesigning the LA dashboard UI to enhance its accessibility so that people with disabilities can use it more efficiently. Following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), in this case study are identified key challenges and solutions in making LA dashboards more accessible and inclusive for higher education students as users, particularly students with visual impairments. The findings in this case study emphasize the importance of accessibility principles in the design and development of learning analytics tools, offering recommendations for developers, educators, and researchers to create more inclusive LA dashboards.