A Software Process Framework for PLE Development to Reduce Time and Costs of Widget Creation and Evolution

In this paper we look at the usability of personal learning environments from a software development perspective, especially how internal quality affects software usability. We propose improvements that enable developers to reduce development time, achieve good usability from the start, and, most importantly, to sustain lasting fitness of software through continuous improvement and its evolution. Our support comes from two different directions: Interaction patterns capture design wisdom, and thereby save design time and reduce documentation necessities. Appropriate processes and tool support lay out development tracks leading to better documentation that reduces costs for changing and evolving the software.