Module Details
| Module Code: |
SOFT8010 |
| Title: |
User Experience Theory
|
|
Long Title:
|
User Experience Theory
|
| NFQ Level: |
Advanced |
| Valid From: |
Semester 1 - 2021/22 ( September 2021 ) |
| Field of Study: |
4814 - Computer Software
|
| Module Description: |
This module explores the foundations of User Experience, Human-Computer Interaction, and usability best practice within psychology and software development. Students will investigate research material in the area and produce a paper on their research.
|
| Learning Outcomes |
| On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
| # |
Learning Outcome Description |
| LO1 |
Justify usability guidelines and design methods in terms of their psychological foundations. |
| LO2 |
Critique standard methods used in the analysis, design, and evaluation of software interfaces. |
| LO3 |
Plan the introduction of a usability engineering process. |
| LO4 |
Discuss current and emerging usability issues. |
| LO5 |
Research and report on a current topic in HCI. |
| Dependencies |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
|
|
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
|
| No incompatible modules listed |
Co-requisite Modules
|
| No Co-requisite modules listed |
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
|
| No requirements listed |
| Indicative Content |
|
Introduction
Overviews of UX, HCI & Usability, Usability Engineering Process, Established guidelines (Neilsen, Shneiderman, ISO).
|
|
Human Psychology
Theories of Perception, Attention, Memory, Causality, Aesthetics, & Learning and their implications for HCI. Specifically issues around: Screen Layout/Presentation, Interface Navigation, Information Visualisation, Directing Attention, User goals and Context, Feedback, Error, Mental Models, Interface Metaphor, User Experience, Icon Design.
|
|
Interaction Design
Interaction Paradigms (e.g. large scale, personal, networked, mobile). Modes of Interaction (Vision, Touch & Gesture, Natural Language, Immersion). Interaction Frameworks and Styles (Heim, S.). Interaction Design Process Models (Iterative, User-Centred, lifecycle models). Overview of Methods: requirements gathering (collection, observation, elicitation), requirements analysis (storyboarding, task analysis), Design (card sorting, semantic networks, personas, scenarios, prototyping), Evaluation: Inspection and Testing. Usability metrics. ISO process structure, Accessibility, Information Architecture.
|
|
Current & emerging topics
Examples: Cognitive Load Theory, User Involvement in design process.
Research paper preparation.
|
|
Software Process and Usability
Introduction of Usability and UX Design into an existing software development process.
|
|
Module Content & Assessment
|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
|---|
| Coursework | 50.00% |
| End of Module Formal Examination | 50.00% |
Assessments
| End of Module Formal Examination |
|
|
| Reassessment Requirement |
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.
|
The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
| Workload: Full Time |
| Workload Type |
Contact Type |
Workload Description |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
Hours |
| Lecture |
Contact |
Presentation of indicative content. |
Every Week |
3.00 |
3 |
| Tutorial |
Contact |
Reading-based discussion of indicative content. |
Every Week |
1.00 |
1 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Non Contact |
Reading, writing, and Study. |
Every Week |
3.00 |
3 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
4.00 |
| Workload: Part Time |
| Workload Type |
Contact Type |
Workload Description |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
Hours |
| Lecture |
Contact |
Presentation of indicative content. |
Every Week |
3.00 |
3 |
| Tutorial |
Contact |
Reading-based discussion of indicative content. |
Every Week |
1.00 |
1 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Non Contact |
Reading, writing, and study. |
Every Week |
3.00 |
3 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
4.00 |
|
Module Resources
|
| Recommended Book Resources |
|---|
-
Shneiderman, B. et al.. (2016), Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective HCI, 6th. Pearson, [ISBN: 9780134380834].
| | Supplementary Book Resources |
|---|
-
Jason Beaird & James George. (2014), The Principles of Beautiful Web Design, 3rd. SitePoint Pty. Ltd., Collingwood, Victoria, [ISBN: 9780992279448].
-
Alan Cooper et al.. (2014), About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design, 4th. Wiley Pub., Indianapolis, IN, [ISBN: 9781118766576].
-
Steven Heim. (2008), The Resonant Interface, Pearson/Addison Wesley, Boston, [ISBN: 9780321375964].
-
Dix, A. et al.. (2007), Human-Computer Interaction, 4th. Prentice Hall, [ISBN: 9780130461094].
-
Steve Krug. (2014), Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 3rd. New Riders, Berkeley, Calif., [ISBN: 9780321965516].
-
Neilsen, J.. (2000), Designing Web Usability: The Practice of Simplicity, New Riders Publishing, [ISBN: 9781562058104].
-
Patrick W. Jordan. (2000), Designing Pleasurable Products: An Introduction to the New Human Factors, Taylor & Francis, London, [ISBN: 9780748408443].
-
Neilsen, J.. (1994), Usability Engineering, Morgan Kaufman, [ISBN: 9780125184069].
-
Donald A. Norman. (2005), Emotional Design, BasicBooks, New York, [ISBN: 9780465051366].
-
Terry Winograd [ed.]. (1996), Bringing Design to Software, ACM Press, [ISBN: 9780201854916].
-
Donald A. Norman. (2013), The Design of Everyday Things, Revised and Expanded. Basic Books, New York, [ISBN: 9780465050659].
| | Supplementary Article/Paper Resources |
|---|
-
Butler et al.. (1999), Human-Computer Interaction: Introduction
and Overview, Proceedings of ACM CHI, pp100-101.
-
Dray Susan. (1995), The Importance of Designing Usable
Systems, Interactions, 2(1), Jan. 1995.
-
A. J. Dix. (1994), The Human Interface, Assembly Automation, 14(3): pp9-13.
-
McGrenere & Ho. (2000), Affordances: Clarifying and Evolving a
Concept, Proceedings of Graphics Interface, May 2000.
-
Still, J. D. & Dark, V. J.. (2013), Cognitively describing and designing
affordances, Design Studies, vol.34,
-
Hollender, N. et al.. (2010), Integrating Cognitive Load Theory and
Concepts of Human–Computer Interaction, Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 26, pp1278–1288.
-
Larusdottir, M. et al.. (2017), A license to kill –Improving UCSD in
Agile development, The Journal of Systems and Software, 123, p.214–2, [ISSN: 0164-1212],
-
Kujala, S.. (2003), User Involvement: A Review of the
Benefits and Challenges, Behaviour & Information Technology, vol. 22, #1, pp1-16.
| | Other Resources |
|---|
-
Website, Jakob Nielsen. usability web page,
-
Website, Human-Computer Interaction Resources
Network. (HCI RN),
-
Website, HCI Bibliography, Association for Computing Machinery, USA,
-
Website, Univ. of Minnesota IT. Web Design References,
-
Website, Henrik Olsen. Interaction Designer's Coffee Break,
-
Website, SitePoint. Web Usability Articles,
|
|