COSC368-24S2 (C) Semester Two 2024

Human-Computer Interaction

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 15 July 2024
End Date: Sunday, 10 November 2024
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 28 July 2024
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 29 September 2024

Description

The course provides an introduction to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). HCI is concerned with understanding, designing, implementing and evaluating user-interfaces so that they better support users in carrying out their tasks. On completing the course you will have knowledge of the theoretical foundations of designing for interaction between humans and computers. You will also have practical experience in implementing and evaluating graphical user interfaces.

Covid-19 Update: Please refer to the course page on AKO | Learn for all information about your course, including lectures, labs, tutorials and assessments.

The designers of interactive computer systems create a language or dialogue that allows users to communicate with their systems. This language may take many forms, such as a text-based command-line interface, a graphical user interface with windows and buttons, or a 3D graphical visualisation. In this course you will learn how to design, implement, and evaluate different types of user-interfaces.

The course (twenty-four lectures) provides an introduction to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). HCI is concerned with understanding, designing, implementing and evaluating user-interfaces so that they better support users.

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyse and identify user requirements [WA2, WA6, WA10]
2. Evaluate and apply current methodologies when designing and implementing interface solutions that meet user requirements [WA2, WA3, WA5, WA9, WA10, WA11]
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the underlying human factors and usability guidelines that influence successful interactions and apply them to user interaction design [WA1, WA3, WA6, WA8, WA9, WA10, WA11]
4. Demonstrate the application of formative and summative interface evaluation techniques [WA4, WA8]

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Globally aware

Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

(1) COSC121 or COSC131; and (2) 30 points from COSC261, COSC262, COSC264, COSC265, ENCE260, SENG201; and (3) 15 points of MATH/EMTH/STAT/PSYC206 (excluding MATH101 and MATH110) RP: COSC101

Recommended Preparation

Timetable 2024

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 09:00 - 10:00 Meremere 108 Lecture Theatre
15 Jul - 25 Aug
9 Sep - 20 Oct
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 13:00 - 14:00 Meremere 108 Lecture Theatre
15 Jul - 25 Aug
9 Sep - 20 Oct
Computer Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 13:00 - 15:00 Jack Erskine 131 Lab 1
15 Jul - 25 Aug
9 Sep - 20 Oct
02 Thursday 15:00 - 17:00 Jack Erskine 131 Lab 1
15 Jul - 25 Aug
9 Sep - 20 Oct
03 Monday 10:00 - 12:00 Jack Erskine 131 Lab 1
15 Jul - 25 Aug
9 Sep - 20 Oct
04 Wednesday 09:00 - 11:00 Jack Erskine 131 Lab 1
15 Jul - 25 Aug
9 Sep - 20 Oct

Timetable Note

Depending on final student numbers, some of the advertised lab/tutorial streams may not run. Final lab/tutorial options will be available for self-allocation closer to the start of the semester through My Timetable.

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Aluna Everitt

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Weekly Labs 9% Weekly Labs 9 x 1%
Assignment 1 16 Sep 2024 25% Group Work
Assignment 2 18 Oct 2024 15% Group Work
Final Exam 51% Need at least 45/100 marks to pass course


Covid-19 Update: Please refer to the course page on AKO | Learn for all information about your course, including lectures, labs, tutorials and assessments.

No assignments will be accepted after the submission deadline. The penalty for the late submission of an assignment will be a deduction of 15 marks from total marks awarded on the assignment.

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading:

1. Designing with the Mind in Mind: Simple guide to understanding user interface design guidelines by Jeff Johnson. (2nd edition) (2014)
2. The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman. (Revised and expanded edition) (2013)
3. Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction by Helen Sharp, Yvonne Rogers, Jennifer Preece. (5th edition) (2019)
4. Human-Computer Interaction by Alan Dix. (3rd edition) (2004)
5. Human-computer interaction: an empirical research perspective by Scott MacKenzie. (2024)
6. The Art of human-computer interface design by Brenda Laurel. (1990)

Notes

There are several important documents available online about departmental regulations, policies and guidelines at the following site. We expect all students to be familiar with these.

Notices about this class will be posted to the class forum in the Learn system.

COSC students will also be made members of a class called “CSSE Notices”, where general notices will be posted that apply to all classes (such as information about building access or job opportunities).

Additional Course Outline Information

Grade moderation

The Computer Science department's grading policy states that in order to pass a course you must meet two requirements:
1. You must achieve an average grade of at least 50% over all assessment items.
2. You must achieve an average mark of at least 45% on invigilated assessment items.

If you satisfy both these criteria, your grade will be determined by the following University-wide scale for converting marks to grades: an average mark of 50% is sufficient for a C- grade, an average mark of 55% earns a C grade, 60% earns a C+ grade and so forth. However if you do not satisfy both the passing criteria you will be given either a D or E grade depending on marks. Marks are sometimes scaled to achieve consistency between courses from year to year.

Students may apply for special consideration if their performance in an assessment is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond their control.

Applications for special consideration should be submitted via the Examinations Office website within five days of the assessment.

Where an extension may be granted for an assessment, this will be decided by direct application to the Department and an application to the Examinations Office may not be required.

Special consideration is not available for items worth less than 10% of the course.

Students prevented by extenuating circumstances from completing the course after the final date for withdrawing, may apply for special consideration for late discontinuation of the course. Applications must be submitted to the Examinations Office within five days of the end of the main examination period for the semester.

Special Consideration Applications for the Final Exam

Please click HERE for the CSSE Department's policy for the academic remedy of applications for a special consideration for final exams.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $942.00

International fee $4,988.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 10 people apply to enrol.

For further information see Computer Science and Software Engineering .

All COSC368 Occurrences

  • COSC368-24S2 (C) Semester Two 2024