Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the usability of a remote learning system in its initial development phase, using a quantitative usability evaluation method through Markov models. Design/methodology/approach: The paper opted for an exploratory study. The data of interest of the research correspond to the possible accesses of users in a learning system's pre-project. The present research is intended to answer questions of the type "how", evaluating the usability through Markov models and the interaction of the learning system's users. Findings: The paper provides a study which allowed the generation of a probability matrix among states and actions, which was utilized in the evaluation of usability based on Markov models, where the usability criteria specified were analyzed. Markov models allow a series of measures of interest to be calculated and they have been successfully utilized in the evaluation of computing and communication systems. Originality/value: This research aimed to investigate the utilization of Markov models in the evaluation of usability in a remote learning system in its pre-project phase and to help in proposing improvement suggestions. (Contains 5 tables and 5 figures.)