Work in progress — Alternative interfaces for e-learning platforms used in remote areas

Several studies show that distance learning is a viable way to provide quality education in areas of difficult access. In the Amazon state, in Brazil, a region where most towns have no roads and transport is primarily via rivers, some projects have gained notoriety for providing effective results in education. These initiatives provide inclusion of people who live in geographically isolated cities. This article discusses the use of a web-based e-learning platform in a region with no high speed internet available and uses Digital TV as an alternative. The software developed using the Brazilian Digital TV pattern and its middleware called GINGA. This paper reports a study on how the extensions can be used. The software developed is an alternative to help these students that lived in isolated areas. The study case was applied to the Federal Institute College from Amazon (IFAM) that offers technician courses as environment and tourism. This Project observed the internet quality and proposes the use of Digital TV as a good option to local with restrictions from the Internet. To prove the viability of the software developed, we made an experimental test with real users. We conducted usability evaluations using the think aloud protocol and used a control group to compare the learning level of two groups. The first students group use the Digital TV software and the second group the web-based tool, after watching the class they answer five questions about the class content.