NOTE: Read this syllabus. It is a contract describing the way this course will be conducted. If there are statements that are unclear, or that you disagree with, please contact the instructor. Specifics are subject to change with appropriate notice.

Course Description

Introduction to the design, evaluation, and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use with a particular emphasis on user interfaces. Possible domains include usability issues for desktop applications, embedded systems, and Web design. Student projects include evaluative studies and sample implementations.

Course Moodle (where all the action happens)

Course Learning Objectives

Learning objectives indicate what you should expect to be able to do by the time this course is completed. Every task required during this course stems from a learning objective.

Students in this course will:

• Understand the importance of good interface design.
• Be able to communicate about interface design needs and decisions
• Be familiar with concepts and strategies for making design decisions
• Be exposed to tools, techniques, and ideas for evaluating and improving upon designs
• Be introduced to the literature of human-computer interaction

Contact Guidelines

I will be in my office with the door open during office hours. Please feel free to stop and see me during those times. If I can not be there during the scheduled hours, I will attempt to let the class know in some fashion.

I tend to prefer email over telephone contact, though I will accept either. Please make certain that you sign your e-mails and that you make it clear what the e-mail is about. This will help me to help you. Especially helpful is including the course number (4656) in the subject.

Materials

Texts: Interaction Design - Sharp, Rogers, and Preece. ID.

Design of Eveyday Things - Norman. DOET.

Web materials: Moodle

Much of the communication for this course (deadlines, announcements, review guides, resources, grades, assignments, etc.) will take place on the course Moodle. You are expected to check the Moodle at least one time between each class session.

Policies

All class policies are based on responsible and respectful behavior and actions. Flexibility within the framework of any class is always more possible as long as requests follow these principles.

You may appeal any grade or policy you feel is inappropriate. Provide an appeal in writing (on paper). Outline why you think the decision or policy is wrong. Set a meeting time to discuss the issue and so that you can advocate for your position. Decisions regarding your appeal will be made at that meeting. If you feel the process was unsatisfactory, you may use the grievance process provided by UMM.

• Communication is important. If something is unclear, please ask. If there is a problem, please bring it to my attention. It is impossible to be responsive to your needs if you do not make it clear that help is needed.
• Remember, feedback helps make the class and my teaching better!
• If you have a disability or medical situation that requires attention, please inform me as early in the class as possible (and see Coleen in disability services). I will endeavor to keep these situations confidential and I will do my best to accommodate you. You are responsible for providing UMM with the proper documentation so that we, as instructors, can support you.
• It is important that the class environment feels like a SAFE learning environment to you. You should not be subjected to harassment based on gender, race, ethnicity, orientation or creed. If there are problems regarding the learning environment, please let me know what can be done to improve the situation. If I am the source of the problem, and you are not comfortable with bringing it to my attention, contact another CSci faculty member or the Division Chair for help.

• Attendance is encouraged, but not mandatory. I reserve the right to refuse to repeat myself incessantly due to your absence. But, I will work with you if I am forewarned of an absence. In-class activities and discussions will occur in this class frequently.
• We will have quizzes and "whaddayaknows" in class on a regular basis. If you miss a "whaddayaknow", you can make it up as a quiz. Quizzes can only be made up if arrangements have been made prior to class.

• Assignments are due at the BEGINNING of class on their due dates.
• Late assignments will be accepted until one week after the due date for 75% of the points as the new maximum number of points possible. Note: If the asignment has been graded and returned (or feedback posted on the Moodle), you will have to make an appointment and sit in my office while I grade the assignment. You will have to explain which parts of your work apply to specific parts of the criteria on the assignment. This will show me that you understand the work and it will prevent me from letting ungraded work pile up. This policy will enable me to give you prompt feedback on your work (which will help you learn more and be more productive in this course). So, if you turn it in late, you run the risk that you will have to grade your work with me, and you will be docked 25%. The posters absolutely cannot be accepted late.
• The final exam must be taken at the given exam time unless you have contacted me at least 2 weeks prior to the event and have worked out an alternative with me.
• You are responsible for the maerial in homework assignments, so it helps to do your own work (though you may collaborate and indicate who you worked with even if you turn in separate assignments). It will be clear when you are expected to do work without collaboration. It will be equally clear when collaboration is encouraged. However, even when you work with others, you are expected to provide an equal share of the effort. Please see UMM policies if you feel you must review the consequences of failure to comply with this.

Grading

A standard 90%(some kind of A), 80%(some kind of B), 70%(some kind of C), 62%(some kind of D) (The D- grade is considered an F) scale will be used. Results are NOT curved.

The Project is a group effort. It is described in detail elsewhere on the Moodle. Most of your homework assignments will help you build part of the project in some way.

Homework Assignments are done outside of class and are individual work unless otherwise noted.

• Assignments are given to encourage you to exercise your skills and work on the project on a more individual level. These will be evenly spaced through the semester and will be made due at some point prior to the due date for the part of the project that the homework applies to.

Quizzes and whaddayaknows will be given either in class or on the Moodle approximately on alternating weeks. Tentative dates are posted on the Moodle and on teh handout from the first day. I will update the scheduled date on the Moodle before the class meeting that precedes the class meeting of a quiz for in class quizzes.

The Final Exam is individual work, closed book (unless otherwise stated ahead of time).

• The final exam will be comprehensive in nature and may include questions related to any aspect of the course. A review sheet will be available. Focus of the exam will be on the readings, the project, and class discussions.

Your Focus

You should always focus on learning the material. I realize that there is a great deal of pressure to receive high marks/grades. However, if you focus on the grade, you will fail to focus on the very thing that can earn you the grade you want. Achieve the goal of becoming confident in your knowledge of the material. If you do this, you will find that you will earn a grade you will be pleased with. I want you to be successful in this course, so please do not hesitate to let me know how things are going.

My Focus

It is important that I show you respect by being responsible for facilitating your learning to the best of my abilities. I will do my best to be approachable and to be timely in my work. I am willing to discuss things with you as needed. I will do my best to honestly and accurately answer your questions. I will admit when I don't know an answer, but I will try to either find the answer later or point you to a good resource.

Official Grading policy:

• A -- achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements.
• B -- achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements.
• C -- achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect.
• D -- achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements.
• S -- achievement that is satisfactory, which is equivalent to a C- or better (achievement required for an S is at the discretion of the instructor but may be no lower than a C-).
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• F (or N) -- Represents failure (or no credit) and signifies that the work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit or (2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an I (see also I)
• I -- (Incomplete) Assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, due to extraordinary circumstances, e.g., hospitalization, a student is prevented from completing the work of the course on time. Requires a written agreement between instructor and student.

For undergraduate courses, one credit is defined as equivalent to an average of three hours of learning effort per week (over a full semester) necessary for an average student to achieve an average grade in the course. For example, a student taking a three credit course that meets for three hours a week should expect to spend an additional six hours a week on coursework outside the classroom.

Academic dishonesty: academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is essential to a positive teaching and learning environment. All students enrolled in University courses are expected to complete coursework responsibilities with fairness and honesty. Failure to do so by seeking unfair advantage over others or misrepresenting someone else's work as your own, can result in disciplinary action. The University Student Conduct Code defines scholastic dishonesty as follows:

"Scholastic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty means plagiarizing; cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring, or using test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; acting alone or in cooperation with another to falsify records or to obtain dishonestly grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement; altering forging , or misusing a University academic record; or fabricating or falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis."

Within this course, a student responsible for scholastic dishonesty can be assigned a penalty up to and including an "F" or "N" for the course. If you have any questions regarding the expectations for a specific assignment or exam, ask.

This page: http://www.morris.umn.edu/~lamberty/cs4656/index.html last updated 8-26-2009

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.