Computer Science 482: Human–Computer Interaction
Unit 0 Using Your Study Guide
Computer Science 482: Human–Computer Interaction examines a cross-section of the wide range of topics in the fields of human–computer interaction (HCI). Working through the course unit by unit, you will be directed to every component and resource of COMP 482.
Each unit is divided into sections, and each section may have several learning objectives. Read through each unit, section, and objective sequentially, and complete the activities to help you achieve the objectives. You are expected to complete all of the required readings and exercises. The exercises will help you focus on and digest the relevant material found in the required readings. In many cases, you will notice that the readings and exercises account for only part of each reference. You are, of course, encouraged to read each reference in its entirety to gain a better overall understanding of the topic.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:
- Explain the capabilities of both humans and computers from the viewpoint of human information processing.
- Describe typical human–computer interaction (HCI) models and styles, as well as various historic HCI paradigms.
- Apply an interactive design process and universal design principles to designing HCI systems.
- Describe and use HCI design principles, standards and guidelines.
- Analyze and identify user models, user support, socio-organizational issues, and stakeholder requirements of HCI systems.
- Discuss tasks and dialogs of relevant HCI systems based on task analysis and dialog design.
- Analyze and discuss HCI issues in groupware, ubiquitous computing, virtual reality, multimedia, and Word Wide Web-related environments.
Course Content and Material
Textbook:
Dix, A., Finlay, J., Abowd, G.D., & Beale, R. (2004) Human–computer interaction (3rd ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-046109-1 (referred to as HCI in the study guide)
This is currently the major textbook used for teaching undergraduate HCI courses. You can find all of the resources related to this book online on the book’s website at https://www.hcibook.com/e3/plain/about/book/
eText:
Sharp, H., Preece, J., & Rogers, Y. (2019). Interaction design: Beyond human–computer interaction (5th ed.) John Wiley & Sons Ltd. ISBN 978-1-119-54730-3 (referred to as Interaction in the study guide).
You can find all of the resources related to this book online on the book’s website at http://www.id-book.com/
What to Do If Something Is Missing
If any of the above items are missing from your course package, please contact the Course Materials department at Athabasca University as soon as possible: cmat@athabascau.ca.
Assignments and Evaluation
During this course, you will be required to complete three assignments. These assignments will help you grasp the content and material presented in the course through their actual application. The overall topics of the assignments are
- Task-Centered Design and Prototyping (Assignment 1)
- Qualitative Evaluation - Usability Studies (Assignment 2)
- System Implementation and Evaluation (Assignment 3)
In addition to the assignments, your progress will be evaluated through a closed-book online final exam. You will be allowed to carry three pages of handwritten notes into the exam. The content of the final exam will be based on the required readings and activities in each unit of the course. Furthermore, the final exam may contain questions that ask for relevant details on how you completed each of the assignments.
The weighting of each component on the composite grade is as follows:
| Assessment | Due Date | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | Weeks 6 to 9 | 25% |
| Assignment 2 | Weeks 10 to 13 | 25% |
| Assignment 3 | Weeks 14 to 17 | 20% |
| Final Exam | 30% | |
| Total | 100% | |
To receive credit for COMP 482, you much achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent), including a grade of 50 percent on the final examination and a grade of at least 50 percent on each of the assignments.
Suggested Study Schedule
The following schedule is suggested to help you organize your activities and complete COMP 482 in about 18 weeks of active study. You may wish to adapt this schedule to meet your own needs and circumstances.
| Week | Task |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read Unit 0 and familiarize yourself with the course. |
| 2 to 6 | Study Units 1 to 3. Read through and begin Assignment 1. |
| 7 | Complete and submit Assignment 1. |
| 8 to 10 | Study Unit 4. Read through and begin Assignment 2. |
| 11 and 12 | Complete and submit Assignment 2. |
| 13 to 15 | Apply for the Final Examination. Study Units 5 to 7. Read through and begin Assignment 3. |
| 16 and 17 | Complete and submit Assignment 3. |
| 17 and 18 | Study for and write the Final Examination. |
Getting Started
Proceed from here to Unit 1; complete each unit in the order that has been recommended. This provides the required background for performing the exercises and the assignments appropriately. Before delving deeply into each unit, it is recommended that you scan each section and the objectives to get an overview of the material. This way you can identify the most interesting and important topics, and focus on them while going through the unit.
You are encouraged to post questions and comments to the Course Forums for each unit as you progress through the course. Your participation in the forums can include any questions that you have about the course content, issues with the course exercises, or new ideas that you have and would like to share with others. Also, take the opportunity to share your knowledge with your peers and answer any of the questions they might have.