| Unit name | Interaction Design |
|---|---|
| Unit code | COMSM0145 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| 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 fundamentally about the design of interactive technology, and this unit will give students the tools to be able to undertake UX design. It will teach fundamental approaches to human-centred design and provide students with the skills they will need in industry or academia.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit will be taken alongside other units as a TB4 unit. Over two terms, students will build their knowledge of the methods and approaches needed for UX interaction design alongside building a portfolio that will be useful to show this knowledge, and also as a tool for getting into the UX job market.
An overview of content
This unit will apply HCI theory to UX design, by teaching the fundamental of engaging with users in order to gain design requirements well as state of the art approaches to interaction design used in industry. Through different UX design projects, students will build up their UX design portfolio.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
This unit will prepare students for UX design by going through the iterative process of human centred design, focusing on the fundamentals of UX design, ideation, prototyping, iterative design and co-design/co-creation. They will have learned and applied different approaches that will set them up for pursuing UX design and/or being part of a UX team.
Learning Outcomes
1. To use different frameworks and techniques to develop interactive technology designs at a range of fidelities
2. To develop skills in sketching and prototyping interactive technologies
3. To learn how to integrate user centred requirements and evaluation in iterative design
4. To practice presenting design concepts in response to diverse briefs
The approach to teaching will be online and synchronous, and therefore will be interactive. Through a site for the unit, students will be able to engage with the lecture materials, reading materials, the teaching staff and their peers. Many of the session will be a mix of theory, methods and hands-on practical work. The design work will be individual, with small amounts of groupwork with different individual focuses. The focus will be linked to industrial practice, with learning tied in with state of the art in HCI design research.
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. Consultations will be regular throughout the design work.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
50% will
be the final portfolio (ILOs 1-3) they will submit as a representation of their final UX design outputs, but also their process of going through iterative user centred design in order to achieve the final designs. This portfolio will be useful for students beyond the end of the unit as a stepping stone towards a professional UX design portfolio.
50% will be an oral presentation (ILOs 1-4) 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 their portfolio and to examine their understanding of UX design approaches, decisions, and trade-offs.
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. COMSM0145).
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 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.
