Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Comparative Analysis of the Usability of Academic Websites of Delta State Polytechnics
by David Ese Okene and Victor Efe Enukpere

Abstract:
The aim of this research study was to evaluate the websites of Delta State Polytechnics, namely: Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro and Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku from the usability perspective. The importance of a website to an academic institution cannot be overemphasized. Websites play huge roles in the world rating of higher institutions, no wonder no Nigerian university is in the list of the best 3000 universities in the world according to webometrics report for 2011. If the status-quo is to be changed, then more Nigerian higher institutions need not only to build websites, but to also appraise the existing sites. Two online automated tools, namely: html toolbox and web page analyzer were used along with a questionnaire directed towards members of our research group. Tools were used to measure the websites internal attributes which cannot be perceived by users, such as html code error, download time, and size of html page. The questionnaire was developed and designed based on 23 usability criteria. Each category deals with one usability aspect. The results showed that the overall usability level of the studied Websites is acceptable. However, there are some weaknesses in some aspects of the design, interface, and performances. Suggestions were provided in the study to enhance the usability of these websites

Keywords: website usability, website evaluation, polytechnic websites, delta state polytechnics websites, polytechnic ratings, ozoro polytechnic, ogwashi-uku polytechnic

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