Syllabus
Principles of Usability
CD225, Section A, 3 Credits
Spring 2007
Tuesday 6:30 – 9:15
Thursday 7:00 – 9:45
Summit 302
John Barton, Adjunct Instructor
john.m.barton@gmail.com
763-772-3186
Office hours on Tuesday
6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Office hours on Thursday
6:30p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Summit 103
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This class focuses on the fundamentals of user-centered design and usability of web-based interfaces but may also include other devices and appliances. We will examine information architecture models, content/design relationships, user behaviors and user testing scenarios. In short, students will learn how people use interactive tools (mostly web sites) and will learn tactics to test the usability of their designs.
II. LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this course, you should be able to:
A. Analyze the usability of the web: content and navigation
B. Examine content hierarchy
C. Emphasize content/design relationships
D. Capitalize on user conventions and discuss what they are
E. Examine user's mental and conceptual models of the web
F. Research content digestion and retention
G. Collaborate effectively with a group
III. METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
A. Analyze the usability of the web: content and navigation
1. Class discussion and participation
2. Projects
3. Critiques and presentations
4. Research
B. Examine content hierarchy
1. Class discussion and participation
2. Projects
3. Critiques and presentations
4. Research
C. Emphasize content/design relationships
D. Capitalize on user conventions and discuss what they are
1. Class discussion and participation
2. Projects
3. Critiques and presentations
4. Research
E. Examine user's mental and conceptual models of the web
1. Class discussion and participation
2. Projects
3. Critiques and presentations
4. Research
F. Research content digestion and retention
1. Class discussion and participation
2. Projects
3. Critiques and presentations
4. Research
G. Collaborate effectively with a group
1. Class discussion and participation
2. Projects
3. Critiques and presentations
4. Research
IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A. Evaluation and Grading
Evaluation and grading will be based primarily on the successful completion of class projects and related assignments. Special grading criteria for individual problems will be outlined at the beginning of each assignment. Other factors include class participation, craft/execution, media/medium proficiency, invention, experimentation, conceptual development, attendance, aptitude, and the submission of a final web-based and CD-R portfolio.
All assigned project work will be completed and submitted by a specified deadline. No work will be accepted after a set deadline has been passed. Any deadline missed, other than for extreme circumstances, will result in a significantly reduced grade being assessed for that assignment. Project work submitted within deadline parameters may be revised, reworked, and resubmitted for further assessment and a potential review of grade.
A mid-semester evaluation will be given to each student and shared with academic advisors for review purposes. There will be a total of 5 projects, three pop quizzes, daily dialogue and class critiques.
Grading will be based on the following breakdown:
Project 1 10%
Project 2 10%
Project 3 20%
Project 4 30%
Project 5 10%
Pop Quizzes 9%
Participation 11%
B. Attendance
Classes that meet 2 times per week recognize 4 absences as grounds for failure.
Classes that meet 1 time per week recognize 3 absences as grounds for failure.
2 tardy are equivalent to 1 absence.
A student will forfeit all rights and privileges for the course failed due to attendance and/or tardy absences.
Excused absences are only granted due to hospitalization and/ or death in the family. Students are required to show documentation of their circumstance to the Office of Academic Affairs. This office will communicate to the given faculty.
CVA recognizes all religions and will grant excused absences for documented religious holidays. Students are required to register the particular times and dates of these holidays at the beginning of each semester with the Office of Academic Affairs. This office will communicate to the given faculty.
Students are responsible for understanding this policy and tracking their own attendance and tardiness.
C. Academic Honor Code
1. Principles
Every student at the College of Visual Arts must adhere to high standards of honorable behavior. Academic work for all liberal arts and studio classes must be a student’s own, with appropriate credit given for use of the words, images, and ideas of another. If a student uses fraudulent means to obtain grades or other advantages in academic work, he or she has not truly gained in knowledge, understanding, or skill. Grades, honors, and other marks of achievement lose their meaning; the reputation of the College of Visual Arts is diminished and the value of its B. F. A. degree reduced. It is therefore essential to the integrity of the college that every member of the community -- students, faculty, staff, and administration -- uphold the highest standards of academic integrity.
2. Definition and Examples of Academic Dishonesty
Cheating
- Copying another student’s answers on a quiz or exam
- Using notes or other source materials on a quiz or exam without the instructor’s permission
- Collaborating on a take-home exam meant to be completed individually
- Using electronic devices such as phones, computers, or calculators during an exam without the instructor’s permission
- Copying another student’s homework assignment
- Using answers from an instructor’s version of a textbook for a homework assignment meant to be completed individually.
- Presenting for either a liberal arts or studio class the work of another without acknowledgement, as though it were your own
- Using the “cut and paste” method of constructing a paper from internet or print sources without synthesizing the ideas to create your own independent thesis or identifying the sources
- Using information, ideas, or images from any source (internet, book, article, a classmate’s research paper or artwork) without proper attribution
- Using the exact words of another without using quotation marks and citing the source
- Paraphrasing the words of another without citing the source
- Submitting, without prior permission, a paper, project, or other assignment completed in one class to fulfill a requirement for another class
- Facilitating academic dishonesty
- Allowing another student to copy answers from your exam paper
- Giving or selling another student a completed assignment, project, or paper
- Informing students in a later section of a class the questions on an exam
- Theft or defacement of any materials or property belonging to another student or member of the staff or faculty
- Theft or defacement of any materials or property belonging to the college
- Theft or defacement of library books or other materials
- Theft of proprietary software
- Unauthorized entry into college property such as classrooms, studios, computer labs, faculty offices, or library
- Unauthorized use or manipulation of studio equipment or computer programs
- Alteration of grade books or files
- Use of personal relationships to gain grades or favors
- Any attempt to obtain grades or credit through fraudulent means.
3. Process for Dealing with Violations of the Honor Code
The College of Visual Arts will treat violations of the honor code with the utmost seriousness. If a student is accused of academic dishonesty, the student will be informed of the alleged violation and the evidence on which the allegation is based. If circumstances warrant, the instructor and relevant department chair, in consultation with the academic dean, may decide on a penalty such as a failing grade or 0 on the assignment or exam or a failing grade in the course. A record of the violation will be filed in the office of the dean, who will maintain a permanent record of reported student violations. Students may appeal to the relevant department chair. If dissatisfied with that decision, the student may appeal to the academic dean. The decision from that office will be final. In special circumstances a student may appeal to a standing hearing committee. Second and subsequent violations of the honor code will be dealt with by the academic dean. Students may appeal decisions to the standing committee, the decision of which is final.
4. Penalties for Violations
Penalties for students found to have engaged in academic dishonesty may include:
- A grade of F or 0 on an assignment, paper, or exam
- A grade of F for the course
- Suspension from the college
- Expulsion from the college
D. Student Responsibilities
1. Treat class time as an opportunity to learn.
2. Abide by the CVA Attendance Policy, Honor Code, Grievance Procedure and Code of Conduct (see Student Handbook).
3. Arrive on class on time, with all materials, ready to work steadily throughout the session.
4. Be prepared with all your required materials for every class.
5. Complete assignments on time. No exceptions.
6. Cite all research, text and image sources (see Student Handbook and visit http://www.shortstreet.net/WRsec4.htm)
7. Participate in all class discussions and critiques.
8. Confront difficulties in your work in the spirit of learning, creative exploration, and personal growth.
9. Ask for help from your instructors when needed.
10. Avail yourself of all available support services including advising, tutorials, and workshops.
11. Respect your fellow students at all times.
12. Disruptive behavior is not tolerated.
13. You are responsible for cleaning up after yourself at the end of each class.
14. No radios, players, walkmans, pagers, or cellular phones are allowed in class.
15. No smoking anywhere in any CVA building. Smoke only in designated outdoor smoking areas on campus.
V.RESOURCES AND READINGS
The CVA virtual bookstore - http://direct.mbsbooks.com/cva.htm has the following required text available for reading assignments and other references. It is also on reserve at the library and available at several online book sources like Amazon.com. Be certain to specify the exact ISBN number when ordering.
Steve Krug
Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
ISBN 0321344758
New Riders Press; 2 edition (August 18, 2005)
Plus you will need to buy one of the following:
Stephen Few
Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual Communication of Data
ISBN 0596100167
O'Reilly Media (January 1, 2006)
Donald Norman
The Design of Everyday Things
ISBN 0465067107
Basic Books; Reprint edition (September 17, 2002)
VI. MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES
A flash drive or CD-Rs and access to a web server
VII. COURSE METHODOLOGY
This course will include a number of projects - some are individual projects and some are group projects. Group projects will be graded not only on an overall group assessment but also peer reviews. This course will also include reading and writing, mandatory class participation and 3 pop quizzes.
The progress of a student is assessed through assigned project work, cognition of that work, written research, application of usability design issues, oral presentations and participation in group projects. Class participation is required. If an individual cannot complete an assignment within the designated timeline, please notify me immediately.
