CS 342 Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction

Professor Adler's Spring 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 Wednesdays before 11am.

Download Syllabus [PDF] [WORD]

Week Topic Videos Homework
1: (Jan 19) Introduction [PDF] [PPT] Class Videos:
  1. Introduction to HCI
  2. Bad Doors!
  3. A Better Measuring Cup
Other Videos:
  1. Bad Doors Video
2: (Jan 26) Good and Bad Design [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Good and Bad Designs
  2. Product Review - HW explained

Due Wednesday January 26 before 11am

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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?
  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.
3: (Feb 2) Visual Design [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Visual Design and Expectations
  2. Affordances and Information Scent

Due Wednesday February 2 before 11am

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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 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.
4: (Feb 9) Qualitative Research / Needfinding [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Qualitative Research
  2. Needfinding
Homework:
  1. Ethnography Assignment
Project Explanation:
  1. Choose Topic & Team Leader
  2. Needfinding Project Assignment

Due Wednesday February 9 before 11am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Website Design under the D2L Assignments tab:
5: (Feb 16) 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. Storyboard Project Assignment

Due Wednesday February 16 before 11am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Ethnography under the D2L Assignments tab:
6: (Feb 23) Prototypes [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Prototypes
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. Prototype Assignment (Note: NinjaMock only allows for a small number of elements in the free version, so I am recommending Marvel this semester)

Due February 23 before 11am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Needfinding under the D2L Assignments tab:
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.
7: (Mar 2) Heuristic Evaluation [PDF] [PPT] Video Lecture:
  1. Heuristic Evaluation
Handouts:
  1. Heuristics Cheatsheet
  2. Heuristics Template [DOC] [PDF]
Project Explanation
  1. Heuristic Evaluation Group Assignment

Due March 2 before 11am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Storyboard under the D2L Assignments tab:
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: (Mar 9) Usability Testing [PDF] [PPT] Video Lecture:
  1. Usability Testing
Project Explanation
  1. Usability Testing

Due Wednesday March 9 before 11am

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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.
(Mar 16)  No Class or Homework - Spring Break
9: (Mar 23) Evaluating our Prototypes

Due Wednesday March 23 before 11am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Prototype under the D2L Assignments tab:
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 30-45 minutes.
  • With a laptop/desktop not mobile device and not a touch screen laptop.
  • Please use only on Chrome or Firefox.
  • Have headphones handy if you are in a public place since there will be audio at times.
  • While I ask for your name, it is only to provide credit for completing the assignment. I will remove all names before analysis so it's anonymous.
Accessibility Design Games
10: (Mar 30)  Midterm Exam Review Sheet for Midterm Exam
11: (Apr 6)  Designing Experiments [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Designing Experiments
  2. President Obama Experiment

Due Wednesday April 6 before 11am

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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 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.
12: (Apr 13)  Analyzing Data [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Analyzing Data
  2. Correlation is not Causation
  3. Which Test Should I do?

Due Wednesday April 13 before 11am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Designing Experiments under the D2L Assignments tab:
13: (Apr 20) Work on Final Projects

Due Wednesday April 20 before 11am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled User Testing under the D2L Assignments tab:
14: (Apr 27) Accessibility[PDF][PPT]
Assistive Technology[PDF] [PPT]		 Accessibility Videos:
  1. Accessibility
  2. Accessible Links
  3. Screen Reader Examples
  4. Colorblind Settings
Assistive Technology Video:
  1. Assistive Technology
Other Videos:
  1. Access to Technology in the Workplace
15: (May 4) Heuristic Evaluation Research Analysis

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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.
Final Project Presentations Wed May 11 at 2-3:50pm

Due Wed May 11 before 1:30pm

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