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 program learning outcomes for the following program(s):
BP094GEN8 - Bachelor of Computer Science
BP096P8 - Bachelor of Software Engineering
BP162OPN9 & BP162OUA17 - Bachelor of Information Technology
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.
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:
- analyse users’ needs, usability goals and user experience goals of a small-to-medium-sized software application
- understand the components of a design plan and apply user-centred design process from requirement gathering to user studies and evaluation
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both.
You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.
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) Assessment Task 2: Recorded reflection (individual) Assessment Task 3: Case study-based practical assessments (individual) Assessment Task 4: In class participation (individual) |
|
Schedule B Assessment Task 1: User research study (individual) Assessment Task 2: Prototype development (individual) Assessment Task 3: Case study-based practical assessments (individual) |
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.