LSC 877 - UI = Design & Evaluation

The Catholic University of America
School of Library = and=20 Information Science
LSC 877 - Special Topics: User = Interface=20 Design and Evaluation

Dr. = Bill=20 Kules
Spring 2009
DRAFT=20 November 5, 2008

Schedule=20 | Weekly=20 Readings | Course=20 = Policies

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisites: LSC = 555:=20 Information Systems in Libraries and Information Centers or permission of the instructor. = Note: This=20 course does not require any computer programming.

Meetings
Class = will meet=20 face-to-face 4:10 PM to 6:40 PM on the Wednesdays in Shahan 302, = with=20 exceptions noted in the schedule below. There will be online and = out-of-class=20 work. We will use Sakai (URL TBA) extensively for announcements,=20 discussion, assignments, etc. Students are expected to monitor Sakai = frequently.=20 Updates, administrative information and reminders are frequently posted = to=20 Sakai. Online participation is expected as part of the course.

Instructor Contact = Information
Bill Kules,=20 Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Marist Hall Room 248
(202) 319-6278=20 (o)
(301) 755-7982 (m)
kules@cua.edu
http://faculty.cua.edu/kules/<= BR>Office=20 hours are posted on my=20 web page.

Description

This=20 course explains how to use design and evaluation techniques to develop=20 successful user interfaces for information systems and other interactive = technologies. Students will develop an understanding of the cognitive = principles=20 and social issues that affect human-computer interaction. Topics covered = include: understanding users and interaction, design strategies, = iterative=20 prototyping, formative and summative evaluation, and usability testing. = Through=20 a team project, students will apply and refine their knowledge. They = will=20 prototype and evaluate the design of a user interface for a real-world=20 system.

Previous=20 projects include:

Redesigning=20 parts of the ALADIN library catalog=20
Redesigning=20 the MS-Windows desktop for patrons of a local senior center to improve = usability=20
Designing=20 a new interface for the Metro=92s SmartTrip farecard machines =

This=20 course focuses on interactive design -- on developing user interfaces = that=20 support people in their everyday and working lives. Students will gain = knowledge=20 and skills that will help them advocate for improved user = interfaces for=20 library catalogs, digital archives/libraries, web applications and more. =

Course Goals

Students will develop an understanding of and = apply:

A user-centered interface design and evaluation = process=20
Human-computer interaction principles and = guidelines=20
Techniques for designing and prototyping user = interfaces=20
Techniques for evaluating user interfaces =

Goals for Student = Learning

TBD

Instructional Methods
This course = uses a=20 variety of instructional methods and activities:=20

Lecture and discussion based on the readings. The required text = provides a=20 foundation for information systems in general, and is augmented with = readings=20 relevant to library and information science.=20
Small group discussions and paired critiques of work products.=20
Hands-on exercises for skills development.=20
A team project, including student presentation and critique.=20
Collaborative learning - You will learn from each other by = sharing=20 experiences, knowledge and skills.=20
Feedback to and from the instructor. In-class and online feedback = is an=20 integral part of the learning and assessment process for both the = student and=20 the instructor.=20
Classes are recorded (on a best-effort basis) and posted to Sakai=20 for review.

These course activities will be conducted=20 both face-to-face (in class) and online (using Sakai, wiki, and = other=20 tools). Students are expected to be online frequently. If you do = not have=20 daily access to the Internet, please contact the instructor before = the=20 first class meeting.

Course=20 Topics

Course=20 Schedule

Week	Meeting Date	Topics	Major Assignments
1		Introduction - User-Centered design	Post introduction; complete introductory questionnaire
2		Identifying needs, requirements and scenarios
3		Evaluation Strategies and Planning	Homework 1 due
4		Observing Users and Asking = Questions Collecting the=20 Data
5		Inspections & Walkthroughs Ethics = & Social=20 Issues	Project teams formed
6		Data analysis Heuristic inspection work = session	Homework 2 due
7		Task Analysis	Approved project plan due
8		Describing requirements	Requirements due
9		Three User-Centered Design Techniques
10		Conceptual design, Interaction design, Interaction styles	Prototype 1 due
11		Design principles and guidelines
12		Physical Design Details	Prototype 2 due
13		Communication
14			Team project presentations
			Complete project due Final assignment due

Notes: Readings are to be read before class. Major assignments are due by noon on = the day=20 of class unless otherwise noted. This schedule and syllabus is = subject=20 to change depending on class needs.=20

Required=20 Course Text

Interaction Design: Beyond = Human-Computer=20 Interaction, 2nd ed.
Sharp, H., Rogers, Y., and Preece, J.
John = Wiley and=20 Sons, West Sussex, England (2007)
ISBN 978-0-470-01866-8

Optional Course Texts

User Interface Design and Evaluation (UIDE)

Stone, D., Jarrett, C., Woodroffe, M. and Minocha, = S.

Morgan Kaufmann, San=20 Francisco. (2005)

Readings

TBD

Back=20 to top

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT

Grading

Grades for this course will be based upon the following = elements:

Component	Percent
Class Participation	15%
Homework 1	15
Homework 2	20
Team Project	30
Final Assignment	20
TOTAL	100

Final grades will be assigned as follows:

Letter	Numeric range
A	94-100
A-	90-93
B+	86-89
B	82-85
B-	78-81
C	70-77
F	Below = 70

University grades: The University grading system is available = at http= ://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/gradesfull.cfm#II=20 for undergraduates and http://p= olicies.cua.edu/academicgrad/gradesfull.cfm#iii=20 for graduate students. Reports of grades in courses are available = at the=20 end of each term on http://cardinalstation.cua.edu=20 .

Class Participation - In class and=20 online

Each class is critical to your learning experience. Your energy = in=20 contributing to class discussions, small-group exercises, and = online=20 activities and discussions will be important. Therefore, coming to = class=20 prepared (e.g., reading all course readings before class, working on = project=20 research, etc.) and actively participating will be necessary to = receiving=20 full credit for class participation. The readings are intended to=20 stimulate questions in addition to providing information. It is a = good=20 strategy to make notes of questions and comments as you read - = these can=20 be useful contributions to the = discussion.

Ungraded = Exercises

Ungraded exercises are provided to help you learn and practice = course=20 material, especially specific techniques or tools. We will often = start an=20 exercise in class and have you finish = afterwards.

Homework

Each homework assignment will incorporate the topics being = covered and=20 selected technology skills. The assignments will have a = collaborative=20 in-class component, and an individual at-home component. = Assignments span=20 multiple weeks. You must post your drafts before each class so = that we can=20 review them. Drafts are not graded but I will deduct points if = they are=20 not posted on time. In class, you will work in small groups to = discuss the=20 assignment and critique each other's drafts; as a group, you will = present=20 back to the class to share the highlights of your discussion. In = class,=20 you will also spend some time on your own producing an HTML = document based=20 on your group's in-class discussion and using the HTML techniques = learned=20 in class.

Before posting or submitting your work, you must = test=20 your work using a PC and Internet Explorer 7. If you do not have = access to=20 a PC, you can use one in the lab.

All assignments must = be=20 posted or submitted by noon on the day they are due, unless = otherwise=20 noted. If the assignment is submitted anytime after noon, your = grade will=20 be reduced by 10%. Each day it is late thereafter you will lose an = additional 5% point (e.g., submitting one day late would reduce = your grade=20 by 15%).

Team Project &=20 Presentation

Students will work in teams of 2-4 to = prototype and=20 evaluate an information access application of substantial size and = complexity over the course of the semester. The focus of this = project is=20 the design process, not implementation, so you do not need to = build a=20 working implementation. At the final presentation, clients as well = as=20 other faculty and students will be invited.

The project will proceed in the following = phases=20 (subject to revision):

Weeks

2-7 Form project = teams,=20 decide on a goal, and draft project proposal

8-9 = Requirements=20 analysis

10-11 Design = strategies=20 and first round prototype

12-13 Second = round=20 prototype

14 Class = presentation and project portfolio

For the team project, you will partner with at least one other = person=20 in the class to to (re)design a user interface for an information = system.=20 Working with a larger group allows you to undertake a more = ambitious and=20 rewarding project. You will gain experience working on a = technology=20 project in a group - which is a real-world requirement for most = jobs. You=20 group will present its work during the last two class = sessions.

NOTE: Each part of the team project must be submitted by the = due date=20 at noon. If it is not submitted on time that day, your grade will = be=20 reduced by 10%. For each subsequent day it is late your grade will = be=20 reduced by 5%.

Final = Assignment

Throughout the course, you will post your assignments to a = personal or=20 team web site. By the end of the course, you will have a portfolio = that=20 illustrates the knowledge and skills you have developed during the = course.=20 After the team project presentations, you will be asked to prepare = a final=20 version of your web portfolio. This will include a reflective = essay that=20 critically examines your experience - what you have learned, how = your=20 perceptions of information technology have changed,=20 etc.

Submitting = Assignments

All assignments are to be submitted electronically through the = Sakai=20 Learning Management System or posted online as instructed.

Late work. The instructor will not accept late work except by = prior=20 arrangement. If accepted, it may not be graded until the end of = the=20 term.

Makeup work. If a student has a legitimate reason, such as a = medical or=20 family emergency, the instructor may allow a student to do makeup = work.=20 The amount and nature of the work is up to the instructor's = discretion. It=20 will be graded at term's end. Documentation of the emergency (e.g. = a=20 doctor's letter) may be required.

Place your name and email address at the top of all pages. Any = work=20 submitted with numerous grammar, spelling or format problems will = be=20 penalized.

Accommodations for students with disabilities: Any student who = feels=20 s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability = should=20 contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs. Please = contact=20 Disability Support Services (at 202 319-5211, room 207 Pryzbyla = Center) to=20 coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented=20 disabilities. To read about the services and policies, please = visit the=20 website: http://disabilitysupport.cua.e= du/.=20 The CUA guide for services and accommodations for students with=20 disabilities can be found at http= ://counsel.cua.edu/ADA/publications/disbro/contents.cfm.=20 Some basic guidelines and links to other information may be found = at: http://counsel.cua.edu/ADA/cl= icks/.

University = Grades

The University grading system is available at http= ://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/gradesfull.cfm#II=20 for undergraduates and http://p= olicies.cua.edu/academicgrad/gradesfull.cfm#iii=20 for graduate students. Reports of grades in courses are available = at the=20 end of each term on http://cardinalstation.cua.edu=20 .

Back=20 to top

COURSE POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is expected of all CUA students. Faculty are = required=20 to initiate the imposition of sanctions when they find violations = of=20 academic honesty, such as plagiarism, improper use of a student's = own=20 work, cheating, and fabrication. The following sanctions are = presented in=20 the University procedures related to Student Academic Dishonesty = (from http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrityprocedures.cfm):= =20 "The presumed sanction for undergraduate students for academic = dishonesty=20 will be failure for the course. There may be circumstances, = however,=20 where, perhaps because of an undergraduate student's past record, = a more=20 serious sanction, such as suspension or expulsion, would be = appropriate.=20 In the context of graduate studies, the expectations for academic = honesty=20 are greater, and therefore the presumed sanction for dishonesty is = likely=20 to be more severe, e.g., expulsion. ...In the more unusual case,=20 mitigating circumstances may exist that would warrant a lesser = sanction=20 than the presumed sanction." Please review the complete texts of = the=20 University policy and procedures regarding Student Academic = Dishonesty,=20 including requirements for appeals, at http://p= olicies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm=20 and http://p= olicies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm.

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. = Always cite=20 your sources.

Participation and = Conduct:

Attendance is required, in keeping with university policy. Your = class=20 participation grade depends on being in class and actively = participating=20 in class and online. If you will be unavoidably absent, you must = consult=20 with the instructor as early as possible. Arrive on time. Late = arrival=20 will affect your class participation grades.

If class is = cancelled due=20 to weather or other emergency, check the online announcements the = next=20 day. We will generally hold class online when this happens.

Behave respectfully. Students are expected to behave = respectfully at=20 all times: while in class, in public discussion forums, and when = using=20 email. Participation grades will reflect a student=92s maturity = level and=20 professionalism; cooperation and collaboration with the class; and = whether=20 the meaningfully contributes to course discussions.

No phone calls during class. Turn off or silence cell phones = and=20 pagers. Students leaving the room for calls may not be allowed to = return=20 to that class session.

No grade discussions in class. Instructor will not discuss = grades in=20 class. First consider why the instructor deducted points. If you = still=20 disagree, explain your disagreement in an e-mail to the=20 instructor.

Accommodations for=20 students with = disabilities

Any=20 student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the = impact of a=20 disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss = specific=20 needs. Please contact Disability Support Services (at 202 = 319-5211, room=20 207 Pryzbyla=20 Center) to = coordinate=20 reasonable accommodations for students with documented = disabilities. To=20 read about the services and policies, please visit the website: http://disabilitysupport.cua.e= du/.

Syllabus changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this = syllabus as=20 needed. Nothing in this syllabus may be construed as a contract. = All=20 changes will be provided to students via the class wiki (http://lsc555.pbwiki.com/).

Acknowledgements

This material was originally adapted from material by Doug = Oard. I=20 co-taught this class with Ryen White during the Spring 2006.=20

Revision History