Course Title: User-centred Design

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: User-centred Design

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COSC2628

City Campus

Undergraduate

140H Computer Science & Information Technology

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2014,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 2 2016

COSC2628

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 1 2021

COSC2628

City Campus

Undergraduate

175H Computing Technologies

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023

COSC2652

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

140H Computer Science & Information Technology

Face-to-Face

Viet2 2015,
Viet3 2015,
Viet2 2016

COSC2652

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Viet2 2018,
Viet1 2019,
Viet3 2019,
Viet1 2020,
Viet1 2021

COSC2652

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

175H Computing Technologies

Face-to-Face

Viet2 2022,
Viet1 2023,
Viet2 2023,
Viet1 2024

COSC2653

Open Learning Australia

Non Award

171H School of Science

Distance / Correspondence

OUASP2UG21

COSC2653

Open Learning Australia

Non Award

175H Computing Technologies

Distance / Correspondence

OUASP4UG23

COSC2710

RMIT Vietnam Hanoi Campus

Undergraduate

175H Computing Technologies

Face-to-Face

Viet2 2023,
Viet1 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr. Dana Mckay

Course Coordinator Phone: -

Course Coordinator Email: dana.mckay@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: -

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

This is an introductory course to user-centred design and usability experience; consequently, if you have already completed User Interface Design or User Interface Programming, you do not need to take this course.

User-centred design is a design methodology that focuses on the needs of end users, limitations of end users, preferences of end users, and business objectives. This course is concerned with the development of interactive systems with a strong focus on user-centred design and usability principles. You will learn what characteristics of a user interface can make it easy or hard for people to use, and how to design user interfaces that take into account human capabilities and constraints. The emphasis will be on design first (iteratively, on paper or with prototyping tools). The design principles you learn here will be applied in the follow up courses in web and mobile application development.

 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for BP094 - Bachelor of Computer Science, BP162 - Bachelor of Information Technology, BP232 – Bachelor of Technology (Computing Studies), BP096 - Bachelor of Software Engineering

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes:

PLO1: Knowledge - Apply a broad and coherent set of knowledge and skills for developing user-centric computing solutions for contemporary societal challenges.

PLO2: Problem Solving - Apply systematic problem solving and decision-making methodologies to identify, design and implement computing solutions to real world problems, demonstrating the ability to work independently to self-manage processes and projects.

PLO4: Communication - Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, employing a range of communication methods in interactions to both computing and non-computing personnel.

PLO5: Collaboration and Teamwork - Demonstrate effective teamwork and collaboration by using tools and practices to manage and meet project deliverables.

 


Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. analyse users’ needs, usability goals and user experience goals of a small-to-medium-sized software application
  2. understand the components of a design plan and apply user-centred design process from requirement gathering to user studies and evaluation
  3. critically analyse usability of sample interfaces and identify key features that make an outstanding user-centred interface, and evaluate the usability of a small-to-medium-sized software application
  4. create a ‘usability checklist’ that enhances the usability of a web or mobile application, in order to summarize and explain usability concepts, relevant alternatives, and decision recommendations to your peers and IT specialists
  5. apply software and paper prototyping tools to design user interfaces that take into account human capabilities and constraints, users’ needs, usability goals and user experience goals
  6. synthesize the design and evaluation of various components of user interface effectively in teams in and peer-review team members’ works and contributions.

 


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities may include: review of pre-recorded lectures, completion of preparation activities, lectorials, laboratory-based activities, webinars, post-lecture exercises, assignment and project work, and self-study.  

A total of 120 hours of study is expected during this course, comprising: 

Teacher-directed hours: Teacher-directed activities may include lectorials, webinars, laboratory-based activities and QA sessions. The teacher-directed hours may vary depending on delivery mode location. Refer to Part B of the course guide for details applicable to each of the study period and location. 

Student-directed hours: You are expected to be self-directed, studying independently outside class. 


Overview of Learning Resources

You will make extensive use of computer laboratories and relevant software provided by the University. You will be able to access course information and learning materials through myRMIT. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided.

The course is supported by the Canvas learning management system which provides specific learning resources. See the RMIT Library Guide at http://rmit.libguides.com/compsci

 


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

The assessment tasks are in two schedules: A and B. You will be advised at the start of the teaching period which of the two schedules apply: 

Schedule A 

Assessment Task 1: Practical project with a milestones (group) -- 50%
There are three milestones, and students need to submit a written report for each milestone: 

  • Milestone 1. User study 
  • Milestone 2. Prototype design documentation  
  • Milestone 3. An interactive prototype (mock-up) and user testing 

This assessment task supports CLOs 1-6. 

Assessment Task 2: Recorded reflection (individual) -- 15%
This will assess student’s contribution to each critical milestone in their group project. 

This assessment task supports CLOs 1-6. 

Assessment Task 3: Case study-based practical assessments (individual) -- 30%
The task requires students to answer the questions in an interview setting (recorded and written). 

This assessment task supports CLOs 1-5 

Assessment Task 4: In class participation (individual) -- 5%
This task comprises short online exercises, conducted every week. 

This assessment task supports CLOs 2-5 

 

Schedule B

Assessment Task 1: User research study (individual)  --30%
The practical work involves evaluating an existing user interface.

This assessment task supports CLOs 1-6.

Assessment Task 2: Prototype development (individual)  -- 40%
This practical work involves designing a high-fidelity prototype based on a client brief.

This assessment task supports CLOs 1-6. 

Assessment Task 3: Case study-based practical assessments (individual) -- 30%
The task will assess students in a work-like environment as a UCD practitioner.

This assessment task supports CLOs 1-5.