FIT3063 Human-computer interaction - Semester 2, 2014

This unit provides a detailed understanding of the underpinning theories, principles and practices of interface design for computer-based systems. It examines issues in the design of system interfaces from a number of perspectives: user, programmer, designer. It explores the application of the relevant theories in practice. The unit will cover topics such as methods and tools for developing effective user interfaces, evaluation methods such as the conduct of usability and heuristic evaluations, design of appropriate interface elements including the design of menus and other interaction styles. The unit will also focus on designing for a diverse range of users and environments.

Mode of Delivery

• Caulfield (Day)
• Malaysia (Day)
• South Africa (Day)

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

• Two hours of lectures
• One 2-hour tutorial

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

• A minimum of 2-3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

CSE3030, FIT2016, FIT3033, GCO3814, IMS2403, IMS3470, MMS2403

Prerequisites

One of FIT2001, FIT2027, IMS2805, CSE2200 or equivalent

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

Student feedback informed improvements to this unit including:

• reverting to the 'design assignment' model from prior semesters
• using more up-to-date software for prototyping (i.e. the Pencil open-source project), to slowly phase out the older MockupScreens system.
• tutorial activities and online forum discussions contribute to part of the assessment

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

• the underpinning theories relevant to HCI;
• the principles and practices of HCI in designing user interfaces;
• the importance and role of usability and evaluation in systems design;
• the issues relating to user diversity, different types of systems, interaction styles, devices and environments.

• appreciate the development of systems from a user perspective;
• differentiate between good HCI practice in systems development from other development practices;
• formulate attitudes which enable them to interact effectively with users;
• empathise with all users particularly those with specific needs.

• recognise the principles of HCI design required in systems development;
• gather user requirements effectively;
• design an effective user interface;
• conduct appropriate evaluation of systems from a HCI perspective and interpret the outcome.

• work in teams to complete assessment tasks;
• empathise with users particularly those with some form of disability.

Unit Schedule

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.

Teaching Approach

Assessment Summary

Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Active participation in tutorials and the discussion board

  Description:

  Students are required to participate throughout the semester in all the learning activities, these include:

  • online forums available through the unit's Moodle site
  • tutorial activities
  • panel-style discussion during tutorials.

  Weighting:

  15%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Criteria for assessment will be based on:

  • relevance of contributions;
  • evidence of wider reading;
  • level of critical thinking and quality of contribution (and in group-based fora);
  • contribution to discussions including quality and number of postings (using Moodle) and
  • general participation

  Due date:

  Tutorial and discussion board contributions will be assessed from Week 2 to Week 11

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Design and conduct of an evaluation

  Description:

  Students will be required to form groups to design and implement an evaluation of a website and present the outcomes in class. Students will also independently evaluate another group's website.  The assessment breakdown is as follows:

  • 5% for the selection of an appropriate site for a usability test
  • 15% (10% + 5%) 10% is for the design and conduct of a usability test. 5% is for the report on the testing and presentation.
  • 5% for an independent usability evaluation of another group's website

  Weighting:

  25%

  Criteria for assessment:

  In this assignment students will demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding of the principles and theories covered through the semester as they relate to usability testing. Assessment will also be based on the design and conduct of the usability test and the detailed recommendations justified through the outcomes of the testing.

  Contributions by individual group members to the overall group submission will be recorded by each group member and will be assessed by the markers in determining the grade awarded to each member of a group. Assessment criteria will be made available in the specifications sheet.

  Due date:

  Presentation due Week 10 or Week 11 in class. Written component due Friday 24 October 2014 by 4pm

  Remarks:

  Groups will be finalised by Week 5 of semester and all group members must belong to the same tutorial. Forming groups across tutorials will NOT be allowed due to logistical constraints.

• Assessment task 3

  Title:

  Designing a form

  Description:

  Students will be required in their tutorial to design a form and justify their design decisions.  Students will be provided with a short case study on which the form will be based. 

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  The assessment will be based on the following:

  • meets all the criteria required from the case study
  • demonstrated understanding of design based on learnings to date
  • justification for the design

  Due date:

  Week 6 Tutorial 5

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting:

  50%

  Length:

  3 hours

  Type (open/closed book):

  Closed book

  Electronic devices allowed in the exam:

  None

Learning resources

Reading list

Cooper, A., Reimann, R. & Cronin, D. (2007) About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction design, John Wiley & Sons

Shneiderman, B. (2010) Designing the User Interface. 5th Edition. Addison-Wesley.

Norman, Donald (1998) The Design of Everyday Things, MIT Press.

Feedback to you

• Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
• Graded assignments with comments
• Other: Informal feedback including sample answers from peers in tutes.

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the Moodle 2 learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Required Resources

For the design of GUI mockups: a choice between:

• Pencil Project (open-source, more features, recommended), or
• MockupScreens (a license is provided strictly for your personal course-related use)

Prescribed text(s)

Rogers, Y. Sharp, H. and Preece, J. (2011). Interaction Design: beyond human-computer interaction. (3rd Edition) Wiley.

Technological Requirements

Students must regularly check Moodle 2.0 for announcements.

Moodle is also used to disseminate courseware for this subject and for assessment submission.

It is strongly recommended that students bring a laptop, and/or tablet to lectures and tutorials in order to take part in interactive discussions/activities.

(Please refer to the Required Resources section for a list of software needed for this course.)

Other Information

Policies

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student Charter

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit