This unit provides a detailed understanding of the underpinning theories, principles and practices of interface design for computer-based systems. It examines issues in the design of system interfaces from a number of perspectives: user, programmer, designer. It explores the application of the relevant theories in practice. The unit will cover topics such as methods and tools for developing effective user interfaces, evaluation methods such as the conduct of usability and heuristic evaluations, design of appropriate interface elements including the design of menus and other interaction styles. The unit will also focus on designing for a diverse range of users and environments.
Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:
(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:
(b.) Additional requirements (all students):
(FIT9003 or FIT5132) or (FIT9030 or FIT5130)
Dr Marc Cheong
Consultation hours: 12 noon on Tuesday before lecture
Ms Pamela Spink
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) survey. The University’s student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash’s educational strategy, see:
www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/ and on student evaluations, see: www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
Student feedback informed improvements to this unit including:
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | Unit overview. Introduction to HCI, interfaces, usability and user-centred design. Human factors. | Note: Tutorials commence in Week 1. Assessment Task 1: Discussion Forums: five forums each approx 2 weeks duration, throughout semester (deadlines will be announced at least two weeks in advance). |
| 2 | Evolution of the interface, understanding the design space, conceptual models, mental models, metaphors, icons. | |
| 3 | Theoretical foundations of HCI: theories, models, frameworks and principles. | |
| 4 | Interface design principles, guidelines, standards and style guides. | |
| 5 | Interface design processes and methods, user-centred design, prototyping. | |
| 6 | Interface design elements, graphical components, sound, sequencing, labels, messages. | |
| 7 | Interaction styles, command language, natural language, menus, forms, direct manipulation, virtual and augmented reality. | Assessment Task 2: Submission of Stage I of the assignment |
| 8 | Usability: usability principles, usability evaluation methods. | |
| 9 | Accessibility: accessibility guidelines, assistive technologies. | Assessment Task 2: Submission of Stage II of the assignment. |
| 10 | Interaction devices: input and output devices, performance evaluation. | |
| 11 | Designing for the Web and Web 2.0. | |
| 12 | Future of HCI. | Assessment Task 3: Submission of Research Paper |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.
Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Discussion Forums (Online and Tutorial-based) | 15% | Five forums throughout the semester (online and group-based conducted within a tutorial setting). |
| Design Assignment (two stages) | 20% | Stage I due in Week 7; Stage II due in Week 10. |
| Research Paper | 15% | Week 12 |
| Examination 1 | 50% | To be advised |
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see resources and tutorials at http://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/academic-integrity/
Criteria for assessment will be based on:
Further details will be made available in the task specification.
In this assignment students will demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding of the principles and theories covered through the semester.
Contributions by individual group members to the overall group submission will be recorded by each group member and will be assessed by the markers in determining the grade awarded to each member of a group. Assessment criteria will be made available in the specifications sheet.
The assessment criteria will be based on:
Further detailed information will be available in the task specification
Shneiderman, B. (2010) Designing the User Interface. 5th Edition. Addison-Wesley.
Norman, Donald (1998) The Design of Everyday Things, MIT Press.
Cooper, A., Reimann, R. & Cronin, D. (2007) About Face #: The Essentials of Interaction design, John Wiley & Sons
Monash Library Unit Reading List (if applicable to the unit)
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html
Faculty of Information Technology Style Guide
Examination/other end-of-semester assessment feedback may take the form of feedback classes, provision of sample answers or other group feedback after official results have been published. Please check with your lecturer on the feedback provided and take advantage of this prior to requesting individual consultations with staff. If your unit has an examination, you may request to view your examination script booklet, see http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/procedures/request-to-view-exam-scripts.html
Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/student-academic-integrity-managing-plagiarism-collusion-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz). Please note that it is your responsibility to retain copies of your assessments.
If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the Moodle 2 learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.
Please check with your lecturer before purchasing any Required Resources. Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library, and prescribed software is available in student labs.
For the design of GUI mockups: a choice between:
Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library.
Rogers, Y. Sharp, H. and Preece, J. (2011). Interaction Design: beyond human-computer interaction. (3rd Edition) Wiley.
Students must regularly check Moodle 2.0 for announcements.
Moodle is also used to disseminate courseware for this subject and for assessment submission.
It is strongly recommended that students bring a laptop, and/or tablet to lectures and tutorials in order to take part in interactive discussions/activities.
(Please refer to the Required Resources section for a list of software needed for this course.)
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash’s Education Policies at: www.policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
Important student resources including Faculty policies are located at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at http://www.monash.edu.au/students. For Malaysia see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/.
The Monash University Library provides a range of services, resources and programs that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Malaysia, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.