354 Int. J. Web Based Communities, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2012 Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Designing a user interface to manage recommendations in virtual learning communities Olga C. Santos* and Emanuela Mazzone Artificial Intelligence Department, aDeNu Research Group, Computer Science School, UNED, c/Juan del Rosal, 16. 28040 Madrid, Spain Fax: +34913988895 E-mail: ocsantos@dia.uned.es E-mail: emazzone @dia.uned.es *Corresponding author Maria Jose Aguilar Tuenti Technologies, SL. Plaza de las Cortes Nº2, 4th floor, 28014, Madrid, Spain E-mail: mariajose.aguilar@gmail.com Jesus G. Boticario Artificial Intelligence Department, aDeNu Research Group, Computer Science School, UNED, c/Juan del Rosal, 16. 28040 Madrid, Spain E-mail: jgb@dia.uned.es Abstract: The article presents the user-centred design process followed to design a user interface for educators to support them in the understanding, generation and usage of recommendations for virtual learning communities. The aim of this tool is to facilitate the involvement of educators when personalising the learning experience for their students, in order to make the educative process as effective, efficient and satisfactory as possible. The user-centred design process described follows the five steps of the information architecture stage and proposes as a result an interaction mock-up for the user interface to support the educator in the management of recommendations. Keywords: recommendations; virtual learning communities; user-centred design; UCD; administration graphical interface; information architecture; recommendations management; interaction mock-up. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Santos, O.C., Mazzone, E., Aguilar, M.J. and Boticario, J.G. (2012) ‘Designing a user interface to manage recommendations in virtual learning communities’, Int. J. Web Based Communities, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp.354–374.