| Unit name | Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction |
|---|---|
| Unit code | COMSM0149 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Paul Marshall |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Computer Science |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
Why is this unit important?
Human-Computer Interaction is a multi-disciplinary area that combines perspectives and theories from diverse disciplines, including engineering, psychology, sociology, design and computer science. This unit will provide the theoretical foundations, which will serve as the building blocks for a career in user experience (UX).
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit will be a first unit taken by both full-time and part-time students in TB1, and will prepare students for the units being taken alongside it as well as for units that follow in subsequent terms or years.
An overview of content
This unit will cover a range of core topics in human-computer interaction (HCI). It will serve to both give an introduction to the history of HCI, and also provide a thorough grounding in the theories that are used to underpin the practical aspects of human-computer interaction. These topics will include User Centred Design, Accessibile and Inclusive Design, Working in Teams, Ergonomics, Psychology, Social Computing, Affective Computing, and User Experience.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
This unit will show the history and the justifications for the growth of the field of UX. This will give context to the theories that will be covered from areas such as psychology and ergonomics. This will prepare students to build on these theories and apply them to practical issues around user research and user interaction design.
Learning Outcomes
1. To describe and explain the value of key concepts in user-centred design
2. To explain and critically discuss how different ways of characterising human behaviour – as physical, psychological, social, or experiential – can be used to understand interactions with technology
3. To describe how user-centred design can integrate with other areas of interactive technology development and critically discuss their strengths and limitations
The approach to teaching will be online and synchronous, and therefore will be interactive. Through a Blackboard site for the unit and MS Team, students will be able to engage with the lecture materials, reading materials, the teaching staff and their peers. Much of the content will be theory driven, but with links to current HCI research and UX industry practice. As there is a lot of material to cover, the summative quizzes will test this foundation knowledge and build towards the final oral exam.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
This unit will be taught online and synchronously with significant engagement directly from lecturers and teaching assistants in class orally and visually, but also through online chat. Ongoing engagement will occur on MSTeams, which will help students to reflect on their understanding.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
40% will be quizzes held every two weeks online in class (ILOs 1-3). These will each be worth 10% and will reflect the wide-ranging lecture material.
60% will be an oral exam (ILOs 1-3) conducted after the course material has been delivered in the exam period. Two members of staff will have an individual MSTeams meeting with each student to discuss different aspects of the unit material.
When assessment does not go to plan
In the case of required reassessment, the student will need to undertake the assessment component(s) as above which they have not passed.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. COMSM0149).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
