IS 226 Introduction to HCI

Professor Adler's Spring 2026 Dynamic Course Outline

This schedule is tentative and may change throughout the semester.
All work must be submitted on time!

Download Syllabus [PDF] [WORD]

Week Topic Videos Readings Homework
1: (Jan 20/22) 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 27/29) Good and Bad Design [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Good and Bad Designs
  2. Product Review - HW explained
3: (Feb 3/5) Visual Design [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Visual Design and Expectations
  2. Affordances and Information Scent
  3. Visual Design - HW Explained
Activity:
  1. Fitts's Law
 Readings: Visual Design

Due Tuesday February 3 before 10:30am

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Submit your file directly to the Assignment folder titled Product Review in Canvas:
  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 10/Feb 12) Qualitative Research / Needfinding [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Qualitative Research
  2. Needfinding
Homework:
  1. Ethnography Assignment
Project Explanation:
  1. Needfinding Project Assignment
 Readings: Qualitative Research

Due Tuesday February 10 before 10:30am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Website Design in Canvas (Assignments):
5: (Feb 17/19) Storyboard [PDF] [PPT] Video Lecture:
  1. Storyboards
Storyboard Links:
  1. Create Storyboards and Star People
  2. Sample Storyboard
Sample Student Project Storyboards:
  1. Storyboard 1
  2. Storyboard 2
Project Explanation:
  1. Storyboard Project Assignment

Due Tuesday February 17 before 10:30am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Ethnography in Canvas (Assignments):
6: (Feb 24/26) Prototypes [PDF] [PPT]
Designing with Figma [PDF] [PPT]		 Video Lectures:
  1. Paper Prototypes
  2. High-Fidelity Prototypes
  3. Low vs. High-fidelity Prototyping
  4. Other Prototypes
  5. Video Prototypes
  6. Designing with Figma
Paper Prototype Examples:
  1. Example 1 (watch Scenario One)
  2. Example 2 (first 5 min)
Prototype Tool you can use:
  1. Figma
Adler Figma Tutorials:
  1. Figma Plugins
  2. Icons Width Height Align
  3. Components
  4. Frames
  5. Text
  6. Nicer Navigation
  7. More Rectangles and Links
  8. Linking/Connection Shortcut
  9. Bottom Toolbar Overview
Other Figma Tutorials:
  1. Getting Started in Figma
  2. Navigation Bar in Figma
Sample Student Project Prototype:
  1. Figma Prototype
Sample Student Video Prototypes:
  1. Voting App
  2. Parking Buddy
  3. Collab Hub
Project Explanation
  1. Prototype Assignment
 Readings: Prototyping and More

Due Tuesday February 24 before 10:30am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Needfindingin Canvas (Assignments):
7: (Mar 3/5) Heuristic Evaluation [PDF] [PPT] Video Lecture:
  1. Heuristic Evaluation
Handouts:
  1. Heuristics Cheatsheet
  2. Heuristics Template [PPT]
  3. Heuristics Template Option 2 [DOC] [PDF]
Project Explanation
  1. Heuristic Evaluation Group Assignment
 Readings: Heuristic Evaluation

Due Tuesday March 3 before 10:30am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Storyboardin Canvas (Assignments):
8: (Mar 10/12) Usability Testing [PDF] [PPT] Video Lecture:
  1. Usability Testing
Project Explanation
  1. Usability Testing
 Readings: Usability Testing
(Mar 17/18)  No Class or Homework - Spring Break
9: (Mar 24/26) Evaluating our Prototypes Handouts:
  1. Heuristics Cheatsheet
  2. Heuristics Template [PPT]

Due Tuesday March 24 before 10:30am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Prototypein Canvas (Assignments):
10: (Mar 31/Apr 2) Designing Experiments [PDF] [PPT] Video Lectures:
  1. Designing Experiments
  2. President Obama Experiment
 Readings: Designing Experiments
11: (Apr 7/9) Analyzing Data [PDF] [PPT] / Accessibility Lab Video Lectures:
  1. Analyzing Data
  2. Correlation is not Causation

Due Tuesday April 7 before 10:30am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Heuristic Evaluation in Canvas (Assignments):
12: (Apr 14/16) Accessibility [PDF][PPT] Accessibility Videos:
  1. Accessibility
  2. Accessible Links
  3. Screen Reader Examples
  4. Colorblind Settings
Other Videos:
  1. Accessibility Videos
Readings: Accessibility

Due Tuesday April 14 before 10:30am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Designing Experiments in Canvas (Assignments):
13: (Apr 21/23) Assistive Technology [PDF] [PPT] Assistive Technology Video:
  1. Assistive Technology
Other Videos:
  1. Access to Technology in the Workplace

Due Tuesday April 21 before 10:30am

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Discuss any two of the Web Accessibility Perspectives videos available on the W3C website. These videos provide examples of the problems people with disabilities encounter when trying to access inaccessible web content.
Submit your file directly to the folder titled User Testing in Canvas (Assignments):
14: (Apr 28/30) Emerging Technologies in HCI [PDF] [PPT]

Due Tuesday April 28 before 10:30am

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Submit your file directly to the folder titled Assistive Technology in Canvas:
15: (May 5) Video Prototype Sample Student Video Prototypes:
  1. Voting App
  2. Parking Buddy
  3. Collab Hub

Due Tuesday May 5 before 10:30am

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Please complete the course evaluations survey that was emailed to you.
Final Project Reports due Tuesday May 12

Due Tuesday May 12

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