Extending web-based educational systems with personalised support through User Centred Designed recommendations along the e-learning life cycle

•User centred design translates educators' expertise to the adaptation process.•Adaptation support can be managed along the e-learning life cycle.•Recommendations can enrich LMS with adaptive navigation support.•Learning outcomes in MOOC improve with user centred recommendations.

In this paper we address an open key issue during the development of web-based educational systems. In particular, we provide an educational-oriented approach for building personalised e-learning environments that focuses on putting the learners' needs in the centre of the development process. Our approach proposes user centred design methodologies involving interdisciplinary teams of software developers and domain experts. It is illustrated in an adaptive e-learning system, where a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) was taken by nearly 400 learners. In particular, we report where user centred design methods can be applied along the e-learning life cycle to designing and evaluating personalisation support through recommendations in learning management systems.