CS 342 Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction

Professor Adler's Fall 2022 Dynamic Course Outline

This schedule is tentative and may change throughout the semester.
All work must be submitted on time! All homework is due Thursdays BEFORE 4pm.

Download Syllabus [PDF] [WORD]

Week Topic Videos Homework
1: (Ending Aug 25) Introduction [PDF] [PPT] Course Overview:
  1. The Website
  2. The Syllabus
  3. Desire2Learn (D2L)
  4. How Readings Works
Video Lectures:
  1. Introduction to HCI
  2. A Better Measuring Cup
Good and Bad Designs:
  1. Bad Doors Video

Due Thursday August 25 before 4pm

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Go to the D2L Discussion board titled Getting to Know You under the D2L Discussions Tab.
  1. Introduce yourself by answer the following questions:
    1. What is your major?
    2. Which (if any) computer science courses have you taken or are currently taking?
    3. What do you consider your best skills to be (these do not need to relate to computers, example organization, project leader, etc.)?
    4. What would you like to do after you graduate?
    5. Fun fact about yourself!
  2. Remember you must reply to at least TWO of your classmates' threads to receive full credit.
Go to the D2L Discussion board titled Good and Bad Design under the D2L Discussions Tab.
  1. Read any two of the articles listed in the reading tab under Good and Bad Design.
  2. Create one thread and in it comment on something you agree or disagree with from each article (Cite which article!).
  3. Why do you feel it is/isn't important in good design? Your answer should be thought out. Provide an example if you can.
  4. Reply to at least two of your classmates' threads.
2: (Ending Sep 1) Good and Bad Design [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Good and Bad Design Lecture
  2. Product Review - HW explained

Due Thursday September 1 before 4pm

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Product Review under the D2L Assignments tab:
  1. Pick a product that you like and write a product review. In this review, please touch upon the aspects of good design, bad design and contrast its features with a product, in the same category, that you think has a bad design.
  2. Include photos (or links to the image) of the good design AND a competing product with a worse design.
  3. Remember what we learned on how to write a good review.
  4. Note: If you can't think of a product you like, you may choose a product you dislike, but keep in mind the same criteria (touch upon aspects of good and bad design, contrast it with a product you think has a good design, and include images of both).
  5. The review must be in your own words. Plagiarism will be checked.
3: (Ending Sep 8) Visual Design [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Visual Design and Expectations
  2. Affordances and Information Scent

Due Thursday September 8 before 4pm

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Go to the D2L Discussion board titled Visual Design under the D2L Discussions Tab.
  1. Read any two of the articles listed in the reading tab under Visual Design.
  2. Discuss a few principles you agree are important in design from each article (cite which article!).
  3. Please touch upon BOTH of these concepts: affordances and conventions.
  4. Reply to at least two of your classmates' threads.
Submit your file directly to the folder titled Website Design under the D2L Assignments tab:
4: (Ending Sep 15) Qualitative Research / Needfinding [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Qualitative Research
  2. Needfinding
Homework:
  1. Ethnography Assignment
  2. Choose Topic & Team Leader

Due Thursday September 15 before 4pm

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Ethnography under the D2L Assignments tab:
Email your submission to me:
5: (Ending Sep 22) Storyboard [PDF] [PPT] Video Lecture:
  1. Storyboards
Storyboard Links:
  1. Create Storyboards and Star People
  2. Sample Storyboard
NEIU Sample Project Storyboards:
  1. Storyboard 1
  2. Storyboard 2
Project Explanation:
  1. Needfinding Project Assignment

Due Thursday September 22 before 4pm

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Needfinding under the D2L Assignments tab:
6: (Ending Sep 29) Prototypes [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Prototypes (We will use Marvel this semester for prototyping)
Paper Prototype Examples:
  1. Example 1 (watch Scenario One)
  2. Example 2
  3. Example 3 (first 5 min)
Prototype Tool you can use:
  1. Marvel
NEIU Sample Student Project Prototypes:
  1. NinjaMock Prototype
  2. Marvel Prototype
NEIU Sample Video Prototypes:
  1. Voting App
  2. Parking Buddy
Project Explanation:
  1. Storyboard Project Assignment

Due September 29 before 4pm

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Go to the D2L Discussion board titled Paper Prototypes under the D2L Discussions Tab.
  1. Read any two of the articles listed in the reading tab under Prototyping and More.
  2. Discuss advantages of paper prototypes and sketching based on what you read in each article (cite the article).
  3. Reply to at least two of your classmates' threads.
Submit your file directly to the folder titled Storyboard under the D2L Assignments tab:
7: (Ending Oct 6) Heuristic Evaluation [PDF] [PPT] Video Lecture:
  1. Heuristic Evaluation
Cheatsheet:
  1. Heuristics Cheatsheet

Due October 6 before Noon

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Go to the D2L Discussion board titled Heuristic Evaluation under the D2L Discussions Tab.
  1. Read any two of the articles listed in the reading tab under Heuristic Evaluation.
  2. Discuss what Heuristic Evaluation is and why it is useful. Specify specifically what you learned from each article (cite the articles).
  3. Reply to at least two of your classmates' threads.
8: (Ending Oct 13) Usability Testing [PDF] [PPT] Video Lecture:
  1. Usability Testing
Project Explanation
  1. Prototype Assignment

Due Thursday October 13 before 4pm

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Go to the D2L Discussion board titled Usability Testing under the D2L Discussions Tab.
  1. Read any one article from the first list and any one article from the second list in the reading tab under Usability Testing.
  2. What is usability testing? Discuss it in terms of what specifically what you learned from each article (cite each article).
  3. Reply to at least two of your classmates' threads.
Submit your file directly to the folder titled Prototype under the D2L Assignments tab:
9: (Ending Oct 20) Evaluating our Prototypes For Homework:
  1. Heuristics Cheatsheet
  2. Heuristics Template [DOC] [PDF]

Due Thursday October 20 before 4pm

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Heuristics Evaluation under the D2L Assignments tab:
Please complete this Survey(We will talk about this later in the semester)
10: (Ending Oct 27)  Accessibility [PDF] [PPT] Video Lecture:
  1. Accessibility
  2. Accessible Links
  3. Screen Reader Examples
  4. Colorblind Settings
Project Explanation
  1. Heuristic Evaluation Group Assignment

Due Thursday October 27 before 4pm

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Heuristic Evaluation under the D2L Assignments tab:
Go to the D2L Discussion board titled Accessibility under the D2L Discussions Tab.
  1. Read any two of the articles listed under Accessibility on the reading tab.
  2. In your own words, summarize each article and explain the importance of Accessibility (cite each article)
  3. Reply to at least two of your classmates' threads.
11: (Ending Nov 3)  Assistive Technology [PDF] [PPT] Video Lecture:
  1. Assistive Technology
Other Videos:
  1. Access to Technology in the Workplace
Homework Explanation
  1. Assistive Technology Assignment
  2. Discussion Board - Videos!

Due Thursday November 3 before 4pm

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Go to the D2L Discussion board titled Accessibility Videos under the D2L Discussions Tab.
  1. Discuss any two of the Web Accessibility Perspectives videos available on the W3C website.
  2. These videos provide examples of the problems people with disabilities encounter when trying to access web content.
  3. Reply to at least two of your classmates' threads.
Submit your file directly to the folder titled Assistive Technology under the D2L Assignments tab:
12: (Ending Nov 10)  Designing Experiments [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Designing Experiments
  2. President Obama Experiment
Project Explanation
  1. Usability Testing

Due Thursday November 10 before 4pm

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled User Testing under the D2L Assignments tab:
Go to the D2L Discussion board titled Designing Experiments under the D2L Discussions Tab.
  1. Read any two of the articles listed in this week's readings.
  2. In your own words, briefly summarize each articles (cite it).
  3. What did they set out to find? What was the result?
  4. Describe your own experiment: if you had the time/resources what you would do?
  5. Reply to at least two of your classmates' threads.
13: (Ending Nov 17) Analyzing Data [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Analyzing Data
  2. Intercoder reliability
  3. Correlation is not Causation
  4. Which Test Should I do?

Due Thursday November 17 before 4pm

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Designing Experiments under the D2L Assignments tab:
14: (Ending Nov 24)  No Assignment - Thanksgiving Break - Work on Final Projects
15: (Ending Dec 1) Accessibility Design Lab + Experiment About the Homework:
  1. Homework Explained

Due Thursday December 1 before 4pm

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Go to the below website and complete ALL forms and games it takes you to. Please complete it:
  • Straight without taking breaks, it should take about 30 minutes.
  • With a laptop/desktop not mobile device.
  • Have headphones handy if you are in a public place since one task has audio.
Accessibility Design Games
Go to the below website and complete ALL forms and tasks it takes you to. Please complete it:
  • Straight without taking breaks, it should take about 30 minutes.
  • With a laptop/desktop not mobile device.
  • Have headphones handy if you are in a public place since you may need audio.
Try an Experiment!
Please complete the course evaluations survey that will be emailed to you (and can be accessed from D2L)
Finals Week: (Dec 6) Final Project Final Project Explained
  1. Video Prototype and Presentation
  2. Submission 1: Virtual Discussion Board Presentation and Comments
  3. Submission 2: Key Assessment Submissions
  4. Where is the key assessment folder?
  5. When is everything due???
NEIU Sample Video Prototypes:
  1. Voting App
  2. Parking Buddy

Due: TUESDAY December 6 before 4pm

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