Spring  2021 (1/18- 4/28)

PLEASE CONTACT THE DEAN OF STUDENTS IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-- THIS WILL EXCUSE YOUR COURSE/STUDIO ABSENCES AND ALLOW YOU TO SUBMIT LATE WORK WITHOUT PENALTIES.

Important resources, click links:

•  HYBRID FORMAT DESCRIPTION

• GT's COVID GUIDELINES  &  Self-Check List

• Student Resources

LOCATION: Remote until FURTHER NOTICE (check Canvas "Welcome" Announcement)

DAY AND TIME: Lecture, Monday/Wednesday 9:30-10:20am; check your registration for STUDIO TIME

Click link: Schedule

Lecturer: Dr. Rosa Arriaga (she, her, hers; arriaga@cc)

Office hours: by appointment but the professor is generally available 1hour after class.

Graduate Teaching Assistants 

Office hour: by appointment 

 Required Readings for Individual Student

• Norman, The Design of Everyday Things, Revised and Expanded (Doubleday, 2013 edition)

 Recommended Readings for the Group

• Rogers, Sharp, and Preece Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction (2nd Edition; Wiley, 2011).

• ISBN-13: 978-1119020752

• ISBN-10: 1119020751

• This book is an introduction to human factors and user interface design, but most of all it is a handbook for design and evaluation. It's a very practical and hands-on introduction to the field. We will cover almost all of the content of this book, but not in chapter order. The professor will provide notes on the chapter but students who need more information can refer to the actual text.

• Each group might want to purchase 1 text book.

Additional Readings Will be Posted on Canvas (see Schedule for details)

Course Description

From the course catalog:

Describes the characteristics of interaction between humans and computers and demonstrates techniques for the evaluation of user-centered systems.

 Beyond the course catalog:

This course is meant to introduce you to human centered computing. This mode of design puts the user first and “technology-for-its own sake” second. Students will be introduced to HCI concepts, design principles and techniques and will be expected to implement them in a variety of group assignments. In this course we work with a “real world” client and use a corporate approach where you are given a project and a team with whom to develop it.

Class Mantra During Covid Pandemic: Patience, Kindness, Integrity

Patience will continue to be in high demand  as we face the term that lies ahead. Next, given that we are all under a lot of stress, respect and kindness must be the foundation of our interactions. Finally, we must uphold GT’s academic mission with our core value of integrity.

Theme: Food insecurity

Community POC:  Atlanta Community Food Bank & Urban Recipe

Serve Learn Sustain Affiliated

This course is part of the SLS initiative which provides students with opportunities to combine their academic and career interests with their desire to make worthwhile contributions to the world and build sustainable communities where people and nature thrive, in Georgia, the United States, and around the globe. More information about SLS can be found at www.serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu. Visit the website to sign up for the SLS Email List, view the full list of affiliated courses and projects, and find links to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Student Outcomes

This class is designed to help students develop and use the critical thinking skills and evaluation prowess that are characteristic of HCI researchers. My goal is to create a dynamic learning environment--one where I will set the stage for learning, and where students will take responsibility for their own learning as well as contribute to the learning of others. I encourage students to go beyond the class material and to seek information that supports this goal.

In completing this course you will…

• Be knowledgeable about human-computer interaction concepts and techniques.

• Demonstrate that design is a systematic and evidence based process by working with a community partner

• Learn the difference between User-Centered Design and other approaches to design

• Design system that understand the context of the user so that the systems you design are desirable in that they are a natural next step in accomplishing a task

• Gain experience as a designer of interactive technology by getting your hands dirty, prototyping interfaces and functions (but not programming or developing the back-end).

• Practice qualitative and quantitative methods for requirement discovery and usability evaluation

• Design technology that is easy to use, useful and supports users with varying levels of expertise.

• Read primary sources in HCI relevant to content area

• Gain an appreciation for being in class without access to digital devices.

Outcomes related to Serve Learn Sustain Initiative

Students will be able to

• identify relationships among ecological, social, and economic systems

• demonstrate skills needed to work effectively in different types of communities.

• evaluate how decisions impact the sustainability of communities.

• describe how they can use their discipline to make communities more sustainable.

Course Structure

LECTURE: The instructor will cover core concepts during lecture these are related to the readings. 

STUDIO: The TAs will reinforce material covered in lecture and lead students through the weekly homework assignments. These assignments allow students to "apply" the concepts covered during lecture and "practice" the relevant techniques discussed during lecture as well as other related topics.

Students will also use studio time to meet with their groups and make progress on their semester-long project. Thus, attending studio and staying for the 2-hour DURATION is mandatory. (TAs will provide details about how studios will proceed).

Foundations of UI Design and HCI (Weeks 1-3) Topics in UI Design: How do we design artifacts that are useful and usable?  Why are systems so difficult to use? Why do users keep making mistakes when they use our great technology? ;) 

• Reading:Norman's "Design of Everyday Things"

Topics in HCI: What if I want to conduct UI design research? 

• Reading: Cresswell, Chapter 1 (in Canvas)

User-centered Design in Context (Weeks 4-15) Topics: User-Centerd Design Cycle: Identifying needs and establishing requirements, understanding and conceptualizing interaction, design and prototyping interfaces and interactions, understanding users via data gathering and data analysis. Prototyping and Evaluation framework. Empirical and analytic evaluation.

• Reading: Interaction Design Text

No Device Policy*

Please turn your phones to airplane mode (no calls, texts, social media etc) while you are “in class.” While in class, you are discouraged from using computers for note taking (see this or this). Most of us feel that we are able to handle two tasks at once (i.e., taking notes and surfing the web). However, there is ample research that shows that multitasking is a fallacy (see this or this). Even your cell phones proximity effects your attention: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/691462

Take this 50 minute class time as a break from your devices. Doodle if you prefer, it still engages other parts of your brain that are not engaged during typical device use!

Evaluation Components

HOMEWORK Assignments

There are WEEKLY homework assignments related to course material. These will be discussed during the studio period. The TA will discuss the homework and provide support, as needed.

These are DUE either at the end of the studio or as stated by the TA.

Note that some homework will garner individual credit and other will garner group credit. Homework must be turned in by each individual team member. Students that submit incomplete homework will have a penalty for each missed submission from the overall team grade for each report. For example, if your team grade is 90 (/100) for a given report and you have lost 4 points on various homework assignments then your individual project grade would be 86 points. 

QUIZZES 

There will be quizzes that will take place during studio. These are INDIVIDUAL submissions (i.e., you cant work with other students to complete them). Quizzes will be based on the readings and will be open book/notes.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

Learning in this course requires that students “attend” class regularly, “arrive” on time, and contribute to class activities (discussions, etc).  

Attendance, promptness, and preparedness/participation are worth 10% of the course grade. 

MARKS FOR ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

Attendance Polls:

These are Polls which basically helps in checking for attendance. Please keep in mind, the attendance mainly is considered based on your journals' grades . These polls are the secondary factor. These will take place during class.

Quizzes

At least one point on each quiz will count as a participation mark.

Participation Assignments: In CLASS

At least one point on each participation assignment will count as a participation mark. If students have an unexcused absences they loose this point. Students are expected to turn all participation assignments because they also count toward their Team Report Grade. In other words, if students miss a participation assignment and fail to get it in by studio they will loose 1 point on their Report grade. The idea is that group members should only get the same grade if they did all their work. 

Participation Assignments: In STUDIO

Students will have deliverables for most studio sessions. If students are absent they are expected to submit their deliverables asap. When students fail to do so, they will loose point on the Report grade. The idea is that group members should only get the same grade if they did all their work. 

Grade Distribution

Individual grade (50%):

• • Class participation= 10%

    • Attendance, in class assignments, poster critique, timely homework submission, etc

• NOTE: if you are "voted off" your group because you are not being responsive or productive you automatically get 0% for participation

  • • Quizzes = 20% (your total/total points possible)

    • Homework=20% (your total/total points possible)-- note that this may be individual homework or group homework.

• Team grade (50%) ASSIGNMENTS

  • Project Description

  • Part 0: Project idea and overview (Homework grade)

  • Part 1: Project requirements 10%

  • Part 2: Design alternatives (includes Poster Session) 10%

  • Part 3: Prototyping and Evaluation plan 10%

  • Part 4: Final Report, Final project deliverable and presentation 20%

Note that teams are able to request feedback from the TA. The dates will be posted on the syllabus.

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS: Reports and Homework

Written work is an important part of many of the evaluation components. Students are expected to use best practices when submitting written work. This means clearly citing material that is not the students. A good guide can be found here.  

The grade assignments will be as follow:

90% or > earns an A;

80%-89.999% earns a B;

70%-79.999% earns a C;

60%-69.999% earns a D;

59.999% or < earns an F 

Note: Because I give students the opportunity to earn extra credit, I don’t “curve” grades, and I don’t “round up.”

Late Assignment Policy: All homework assignment will be due at 11:59pm one day after the student's studio. There will be a 10% penalty if it is submitted <24 hours after the due date. After that, the assignment will be a 0.

Ex. if studio is on Wednesday, HW is due @11:59pm on Thursday, -10% off if submitted by 11:59pm Friday, assignment will receive 0 points Saturday or later"

Statement of Intent for Classroom Inclusivity

I am committed to creating a learning environment in which all of my students feel safe and included.  Because we are individuals with varying needs, I am reliant on your feedback to achieve this goal.  To that end, I invite you to enter into dialogue with me about the things I can stop, start, and continue doing to make my classroom an environment in which every student feels valued and can engage actively in our learning community.

Extra Credit Policy

You are allowed to “solidify” your final grade by 2 percentage points (earn 80% instead of 78%) by participating in studies with the Psychology Department (SONA) or HCI (in CoC). Three hours of experiments are equal to 1 grade point toward your final grade. Grade points only come in whole integers.

SONA CREDIT SUBMISSION: When you have all the credit you want to use toward your class grade (or by Monday of DeadWeek)-- you will take a screenshot that shows your name and that you allocated the credit to 3873. You will then upload it to Canvas to the SONA assignment.

REGRADE POLICY

Reports: Teams are allowed to resubmit 1 report for points that will lead to an improvement in 1 letter grade. There is a 1 week deadline for resubmissions

Communication with Professor and TAS

Correspondence about Georgia Tech business must be conducted over GT email addresses. All GT-related business must be conducted with professional etiquette.

Students are responsible for:

• documenting meaningful communication with the professor and TAs by sending an e-mail (with 3873 in the subject line) of the details to the person in question.

• keeping track of all digital copies of your assignments. If material is misplaced during the semester, it is the student’s responsibility to replace it upon request.

The instructor and TAs  will respond to email within 48 hours. 

Students with Disabilities 

Students must provide the instructor with an accommodation letter from the Georgia Tech ADAPTS office (404-894-2564) within the first two weeks of class to have accommodations made. This will allow you to use your computer for note taking as well.

Student Code of Conduct:  Academic Honesty

Georgia Tech requires students to adhere to high standards of integrity in their academic work. ALL BREACHES OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WILL BE REPORTED TO THE DEAN OF STUDENTS AND WILL RESULT IN THE RELEVANT SANCTION. (From a drop in grade to an F) 

Acknowledgments:

I am grateful to all of the colleagues that shared their instructional material with me, including: Gregory Abowd, Colin Potts, Jim Foley and many graduate assistants who helped me improve the content.