Towards simplifying learning systems: a critical review

The concept of learning itself involves a significant amount of complexity. Therefore there is a need to design and implement learning systems that are not complex, confusing or complicated. This paper discusses, based on a review of the literature, how we could simplify educational technology and learning systems by focusing on one of the most important user centered design principles, i.e. understanding learner's needs and establishing requirements. It is also important to consider the learning context before focusing on the characteristics and system requirements. In conclusion, nowadays, more than ever before, new and emerging technologies could make possible the design of powerful learning systems that could transform the quality of learning as long as they are easy to use, intuitive and provide an engaging user experience.