Interface metaphors and web-based learning

In building an effective Web-based learning system, consideration must be given to not only the educational content and learning activities but also to the design of the human computer interface (HCI). When the interface is difficult to use it can interfere with learning. Whilst this is a critical aspect, the design of this element is often overlooked in the rush to get our materials on the web. The considered use of interface metaphors not only complements the overall HCI design process, but also allows the user to quickly move beyond the mechanics of the interface itself to the more important goal of learning the content. This paper provides examples of how interface metaphors have been used in software and discusses how we might leverage off their use in our future designs.