C S 356
Advanced Techniques in Human Computer Interaction
Computer Science
College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Course Description
This class combines designing the user experience with implementing the technology. Students learn website design, information architecture, and how to design for the broader ecosystem of use. Finally, students will learn principles specifically relevant to website design and information architecture. Web design is one of the most common UX jobs and so this makes their skills highly marketable.
When Taught
Fall and Winter
Grade Rule
Standard Grade Rule: A B C D E I
Fixed
3
Fixed
2
Fixed
2
Title
Analyze the Context of a Design Problem
Learning Outcome
Students will learn how to analyze secondary data related to their design problem in order to understand the context in which people are using a given technology. Namely, this class goes beyond just interviewing users and to analyzing multiple sources of data that helps them understand the context in which the users are using the technology. This could include analyzing bug report, comments on social media, Q&A forums, other documentation about the topic, interview transcripts from multiple sets of stakeholders (e.g., users v. non users).
Title
Design the Different Stakeholders.
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to apply methods such as Personas to represent multiple stakeholders who are affected by the technology. This will allow them to analyze the characteristics of and segment the target population.
Title
Apply Advanced Design Principles
Learning Outcome
Understand and apply design patterns and theories of information to the design of an online systerm.
Title
Implement Functional Prototype
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to specify and implement/create a functional prototype that improves on the user experience of the design problem.
Title
Evaluate Design Improvement
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to compare different designs to determine which has a better user experience using techniques such as A/B testing. This could be comparing the existing website that they have been analyzing, with a newly proposed/implemented website design for the same organization.
