Why Teachers should Consider User Experience within Learning Management Systems: A Community of Inquiry Approach During COVID-19 Containment Measures

Community of Inquiry (CoI) has been used noticeably to research and practice online and blended education, and in such contexts the Learning Management System (LMS) can profoundly affect learners’ performances. Nevertheless, the choice of the most appropriate digital environment often leaves aside the user experience. A review of the available literature shows that usability has not been frequently investigated within the CoI, hence a bibliometric network analysis has been conducted to detect this feature in the research niche. By introducing the concept of affordance, it is possible to recognize the pre-existing status to Social and Cognitive Presence as qualities nested in the digital environment but capable to manifest only when learners act. Following an academic survey carried out during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy, Teaching Presence was examined within a Moodle-based university environment. Findings suggest that instructors should acknowledge educational and social affordances to incorporate them into instructional design