Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Usability Engineering

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COSC1182

City Campus

Postgraduate

140H Computer Science & Information Technology

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 1 2015

COSC1182

City Campus

Postgraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020

COSC1182

City Campus

Postgraduate

175H Computing Technologies

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 2 2024

COSC1183

City Campus

Undergraduate

140H Computer Science & Information Technology

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 1 2015

COSC1183

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020

COSC1183

City Campus

Undergraduate

175H Computing Technologies

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 2 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr Danula Hettiachchi

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: danula.hettiachchi@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enforced Pre-Requisite Courses

Successful completion of the following course/s:

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.

For information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage.

 

If you have completed prior studies at RMIT or another institution that developed the skills and knowledge covered in the above course/s you may be eligible to apply for credit transfer.

Alternatively, if you have prior relevant work experience that developed the skills and knowledge covered in the above course/s you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.

Please follow the link for further information on how to apply for credit for prior study or experience.


Course Description

Usability is the extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use Usability engineering is a set of behavioural research methods and techniques that can be applied at every stage of the software development lifecycle, to improve the usability of the developed product by conducting usability studies that analyse users’ needs or evaluate the product’s usability.

This course introduces you to concepts, methods and techniques that you can apply to design and conduct usability studies, building on your practical experience with software system analysis and design, and with writing and testing code. You will learn the theory and practice of various approaches, methods and techniques, and apply these to acquire practical experience in conducting usability studies for interactive systems. Tutorial activities provide the skills you need to complete assignments where you design a usability test of an interactive system, recruit suitable participants, conduct the test, and analyse and report on your findings.

If you are enrolled in this course as a component of your Bachelor Honours Program, your overall mark will contribute to the calculation of the Weighted Average Mark (WAM).

See the WAM information web page for more information.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

This course contributes to the program learning outcomes for the following program(s):

Major - Advanced Data Science

  • BP340P23 - Bachelor of Data Science
  • BP348 - Bachelor of Data Science (Professional)

PLO 2    Problem Solving - Apply systematic problem solving and decision making methodologies to identify, design and implement data driven solutions to real world problems, demonstrating the ability to work independently to self-manage processes and projects
PLO 3    Cognitive and Technical Skill - Critically analyse and evaluate user requirements and design data driven solutions, employing data science development tools, techniques and emerging technologies
PLO 4    Communication - Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, employing a range of communication methods in interactions.to both computing and non computing personnel.
PLO 5    Collaboration and Teamwork - Demonstrate effective teamwork and collaboration by using tools and practices to manage and meet project deliverables.
PLO 6    Responsibility and Accountability - Demonstrate integrity, ethical conduct, sustainable and culturally inclusive professional standards, including First Nations knowledges and input in designing and implementing data driven solutions.

BP162O - Bachelor of Information Technology (RMITO)
BP162P23 - Bachelor of Information Technology
BP349 - Bachelor of Information Technology (Professional)
BP355 - Bachelor of Cyber Security
BP356 - Bachelor of Cyber Security (Professional)

PLO 1    Knowledge -- Apply a broad and coherent set of knowledge and skills for developing user-centric information technology solutions for contemporary societal challenges.
PLO 2    Problem Solving -- Apply systematic problem solving and decision-making methodologies to identify, design and implement information technology solutions to real world problems, demonstrating the ability to work independently to self-manage processes and projects.
PLO 3    Cognitive and Technical Skill -- Critically analyse and evaluate user requirements and design systems employing software development tools, techniques and emerging technologies.
PLO 4    Communication --  Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, employing a range of communication methods in interactions to both computing and non-computing personnel.
PLO 5    Collaboration and Teamwork -- Demonstrate effective teamwork and collaboration by using tools and practices to manage and meet project deliverables. 
PLO 6    Responsibility and Accountability -- Demonstrate integrity, ethical conduct, sustainable and culturally inclusive professional standards, including First Nations knowledges and input in designing and implementing information technology solutions. 

BH120BIT - Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering) (Honours)
BH120CY - Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering) (Honours)

PLO 1    Demonstrate a coherent and advanced understanding and knowledge of fundamental engineering and scientific theories, principles and concepts and apply advanced technical knowledge in specialist domain of engineering.  
PLO 4    Apply knowledge of established engineering methods to the solution of complex problems in the engineering discipline. 
PLO 5    Utilise mathematics, software, tools and techniques, referencing appropriate engineering standards and codes of practice, in the design of complex engineering systems. 
PLO 8    Communicate engineering designs and solutions respectfully and effectively, employing a range of advanced communication methods, in an individual or team environment, to diverse audiences. 
PLO 10    Critically analyse, evaluate, and transform information, while exercising professional judgement, in an engineering context. 
PLO 11    Collaborate and contribute as an effective team member or leader in diverse, multi-disciplinary teams, with commitment to First Nations peoples and/or globally inclusive perspectives and participation in an engineering context. 

For more information on the program learning outcomes for your program, please see the program guide.


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

CLO1: Justify the theory and practice of usability evaluation approaches, methods and techniques
CLO2: Compare and evaluate strengths and weaknesses of various approaches, methods and techniques for evaluating usability
CLO3: Design and implement a usability test plan, based on modelling or requirements specification
CLO4: Choose appropriate approaches, methods and techniques to evaluate the usability of a specified interactive system
CLO5: Devise, perform and analyse experiments to evaluate the usability of a specified interactive system
CLO6: Write professional reports to: explain and justify usability concepts; describe results of user studies; make recommendations to stakeholders.


Overview of Learning Activities

The core material of the course will be presented in a series of pre-recorded lectures, where content will be described and illustrated with demonstrations and examples, and discussion of concepts and relevant experiences is encouraged. In tutorials and during assignment work, you will plan, design and carry out usability tests, and analyse and report the results of usability tests. Tutorials also provide the opportunity to discuss the concepts with your peers and tutors.

Your private study, working through course materials and suggested wider reading will help you gain practice at solving conceptual and technical problems.


Overview of Learning Resources

You will be provided with tools and readings on the RMIT Canvas site for this course. You will also use software that is freely accessible from the RMIT software library, and other RMIT-provided resources.

Class notes and other supplementary reading material will be made available in the Learning Hub weekly.
Announcements, tutorials, assignments and discussion forums will be available in Canvas, the Learning Hub. It is a necessity that you visit the course home page at least twice a week to make sure you are aware of the recent announcements regarding with the day-to-day activities of the course.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment tasks

Assessment Task 1: User Sensitivity
Weighting 13%
This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 4, and 6

Assessment Task 2: Statistical Usability
Weighting 22% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 5 and 6

Assessment Task 3: Usability Testing
Weighting 40% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 - 4 and 6

Assessment Task 4: Theory of Usability
Weighting 25%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 and 6. 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.