FIT5152 User interface design and usability - Semester 2, 2011

This unit provides detailed understanding of user interface design principles and practices and usability for computer-based systems. The principles, guidelines and standards for incorporating human factors in computer interface design are explored. The unit examines issues in interface design and usability from various perspectives and how to manage this during systems development. It explores contemporary issues including: background and underpinning theories, guidelines and standards, design processes and implementation in practice, user interface evaluation methods, interface styles and componential design. The application of HCI design in other environments such as virtual reality and mobile devices will be covered.

Mode of Delivery

• Caulfield (Evening)
• South Africa (Day)

Contact Hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 1.5 hr laboratory/wk

Workload

This is a 6 point unit which, according to University guidelines, requires you to spend 12 hours of work per week on it (a total of at least 144 hours per semester).

The anticipated workload is:

• 2 hours per week lecture (commencing 26 July 2011), and
• 1.5 hours per week tutorial/laboratory (commencing 2 August 2011)

 Plus approximately:

• 5.5 hours per week on preparation, online contributions and assignments, and 
• 3 hours per week minimum on additional reading.

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

IMS5302, CSE5930

Prerequisites

For MAIT Students FIT9019 and FIT9030.
For all other students FIT9003.

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Tutors

Academic Overview

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this unit students should be able to:

• understand from a management as well as technology perspective how the theories, guidelines and standards can be incorporated into the design of user interfaces;
• understand and apply the principles of interface design relating to HCI, this includes recognising good and bad examples;
• apply the standards, principles and theories in practice.
• develop and conduct usability evaluations and be able to interpret the results, identify changes that are needed to a user interface
• understand the different design considerations for designing for the Web and other devices
• understand the different user centred development methodologies that look at design from a user perspective. In particular have knowledge of the basic principles of good interface design and HCI principles;
• appreciate the difficulties users face when working with systems and be able to comprehend the concepts and principles underlying effective interface design and recognise good design from poor design and what the difference is from a user perspective;
• develop attitudes which enable them to interact effectively with users in order to apply this knowldege to the design of interfaces for a range of technologies;
• analyse the component parts of an interface so to be able to identify what is good design;
• synthesise the knowldege, guidelines and theory to understand how each contributes to practice;
• effectively conduct an evaluation of an information system especially in terms of usability of information systems;
• understand the development of systems from a user perspective;
• appreciate the difficulties users face when working with systems;
• apply the principles, standards and theories relating to interface design and HCI to information systems development;
• gather user requirements effectively;
• design an effective user interface;
• conduct a usability test and interpret the outcome;
• recognise poor design and solutions.

Graduate Attributes

Assessment Summary

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

Teaching Approach

• Lecture and tutorials or problem classes
  This teaching and learning approach provides facilitated learning, practical exploration and peer learning.
• Other
  Moodle discussion and readings: Students are encouraged to take responsibility for organising and directing their learning.

Feedback

Our feedback to You

• Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
• Graded assignments with comments
• Test results and feedback
• Other: Marking guides will be provided for each assignment and feedback against the marking guide will be given when assignments are assessed

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this unit

Required Resources

The prescribed text is:

Shneiderman, B and Plaisant C (2010). Designing the User Interface, 5th edition Pearson.

A reading list and other reseources, for each tutorial will be available weekly on Moodle. All reading material will be available from the library in PDF format.  Any other material will be provided online.

Unit Schedule

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

During the semester you will be assessed on work in, and preparation for, tutorials, in particular the specifically assigned reading for each week. The assessment will be dependent on the quality of your answers based on the readings. A number of exercises may be set and students will be expected to complete those exercises either during the tutorial,  or in preparation for the tutorial, and to actively participate in tutorial classes.  Assessment will occur in tutorials from Week 2 to Week 10.

This assessment will consitute 10% of your marks. No marks are awarded for simply attending tutorials.

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Assignment 1

  Description:

  Students will demonstrate,  in class, their knowledge and understanding of form design and the relevant theories covered in the unit up to this point of the semester.  Students will be required during the tutorial to design a form based on a case study that will be provided during the tutorial.
  
  Further details will be provided in semester.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Quality of the form designed (based on the learning to date) and the justification provided for the design.

  Due date:

  Week 5 Tutorial

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Assignment 2

  Description:

  Assignment 2 is a group assignment. There are two components to the assignment, a written component and presentation.  The assignment is designed to provide you with the practical experience of designing and conducting an evaluation of a website.
  
  The written component will be a literature review relevant to the topic, the design, and implementation of the evaluation, in line with what has been studied during the semester.  There will be a number of websites you can choose from for the assignment. 
  
  Groups must be organised  and finalised by Week 9. Group presentations will take place in the tutorial classes, in Weeks 11 and 12.  
  
  Further details will be provided in semester.
  

  Weighting:

  20% (15% written component, 5% presentation)

  Criteria for assessment:

  All students in the group will be given the same mark unless an adjustment is made by the lecturer based on feedback from the group.

  The written component will be assessed on the design of the evaluation conducted,  quality of the content, understanding of the concepts and background literature .

  The presentation will be assessed on the quality of the presentation and the delivery, the content selected for the presentation and its relevance.

  Due date:

  Written component due Friday 21 October 2011, presentation due Week 11 or Week 12 Tutorial (to be confirmed)

  Remarks:

  Students will be asked to provide confidential peer assessment of the work and contribution of each member of the group. This will be taken into account when the final marks are awarded.  An individual's mark in the group may be adjusted up or down in the light of the peer assessment.  The group will be required to detail the work to be completed by each member of the group and this is to be submitted before Week 9.  This will also be used where necessary to adjust marks.

• Assessment task 3

  Title:

  Regular participation in online discussion forums

  Description:

  From Week 2 to Week 11 you are expected contribute to online forum discussions, including posting new topics that are relevant to the unit and meaningful responses to the postings of other students.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Simply posting to a forum does not guarantee that you will recieve any marks, the awarding of marks depends on the quality of your contribution.

  Due date:

  Ongoing (Week 2 to Week 11)

  Remarks:

  Students will be notified of the opening and closing of forums for their contributions during semester.

• Assessment task 4

  Title:

  Active participation in tutorials

  Description:

  From Week 2 to Week 10 you are expected to actively participate in tutorial classes. Students will be asked questions relating to the reading material and the tutorial tasks.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Quality of answers / responses.

  Demonstrate an understanding of the reading material provided.

  Due date:

  Weekly (Week 2 to Week 10)

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting:

  50%

  Length:

  3 hours

  Type (open/closed book):

  Closed book

  Electronic devices allowed in the exam:

  None

Assignment submission

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Referencing requirements

Students should be aware of and adhere to the guidelines for referencing assignment work.  This will be discussed in Lecture 3. Please also refer to the guidelines provided by the library.

Other Information

Policies

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