CCT380H5F PRA0101

Human-Computer Interaction and Communication

Course Outline - Summer 2024

Course Description

The emphasis in this course will be on theoretical, methodological, and empirical issues in the study of Human-Computer Interaction. Intelligent interface designs, usability assessment, user modeling and the accessibility of the technology for the disabled are among the topics to be examined. Related behavioural investigations concerning the ease and efficiency of users' interactions with computerized environments will also be discussed. [36P]

Prerequisite: CCT109H5 and CCT110H5 (SSc)

Distribution Requirement: SSc

It is your responsibility to ensure that the prerequisites for course have been met. Students without the prerequisites can be removed at any time. No waivers will be granted.

Goals and Learning Objectives

Welcome to HCI and Communication

This project-centered course will take us from research to re-development of a user interface, applying our creative expression in each of our own areas of interest, combined with the skills developed in the class, and considering HCI concepts and how human users interact with different elements of information architecture.

The course will use various technologies as we explore the skills required in HCI.

We also will be considering the implementation issues, needs of readers, and issues of how we analyze, plan, manage, and design the content, as well as the steps required, and a series of various technologies.

We may look through the lens of artificial intelligence, accessibility, or other relevant topics.

The course is set up to be participatory and discussion focused, and based on the pace of the class, the plan is to get everyone comfortable with the re-development of a website or other user interface.

This course offers a preliminary introduction to the interdisciplinary field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), blending

theoretical foundations with practical applications. Through an exploration of Human Factors, information architecture, and

usability principles, students will gain insights into designing effective and user-friendly technology systems and interfaces.In this class, we will consider many goals and learning objectives.

By the end of this course, after participating in the activities and engaging with the material, students should be exposed or be able to do to the following:

1.  Exploring the theoretical foundations of HCI from a Human Factors perspective, delving into cognitive, perceptual, and ergonomic aspects that shape human interactions with technology.

2.  Investigating information architecture principles, such as organizing, structuring, and labeling content to ensure seamless navigation and meaningful user experiences.

3.  Learning and applying Human Factors techniques in the design of interactions and interfaces to create intuitive and user- centric digital systems.

4.  Designing usable digital technology systems that mediate human-to-human communication, utilizing prototyping software to develop and refine interface designs.

5.  Developing a foundational understanding of HCI system validation and evaluation methods, including usability testing (such as card sorting, tree testing, user feedback analysis, etc).

6.  Engaging in class discussions, and collaborative activities, fostering critical thinking and creativity in the context of user experience.

Throughout the course, students will have opportunities to apply these principles and techniques to real-world projects, honing their skills in HCI design and evaluation. By the end of the course, students will be well-equipped to create digital systems that effectively address the needs and preferences of diverse user groups, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience.

Through the project, we will make a website more usable through application of our new HCI skills.

Note that the order and coverage of the topics in this syllabus may shift based on the pace and interests of the class.

Required Materials

Students will not be required to purchase a commercial textbook for this course.

This course will rely on online resources, as posted on the learning management system.

Resources will include readings through the university library, open-source content, and publicly accessible content.

Assessment and Grading Policies

You should receive at least one significant mark (15%) before the last day you can drop a course without academic penalty.

Requirements and Criteria

Component

Tentative deadlines are listed in the weekly breakdown below. Additional and updated details for each assignment, as well as the finalized deadline will be posted to the LMS no later than 1 class before each deadline.

In-Class Activities, Contribution, Attendance/Participation, and Peer Reviews (Individual - 10%)

These are in-class discussions and contributions to the class, and the purpose of these is to sensitize your understanding of the world and people's interaction with information and organizational structures that contain information. Attendance and contributions are expected. You will also be asked to peer review and provide feedback during some of the in-class presentations. At the end of the semester, you may be asked to self-evaluate your contributions.

Studio Sessions (4-5, held in class - Individual - 10%)

Each studio focuses on a topic discussed in class, and asks the student to identify, critique and create information architectures in the everyday environment by following standard techniques.. These are assignments that are to be completed individually.

Project (P0-P3 + presentation - Teamwork)

The project is a major undertaking involving a team. The overall goal of the project is to take a website's existing navigational structure, deconstruct it by developing an understanding of the website's users, the website's context and the website's content, and  then redesign a new navigational structure. You will implement the navigational structure through various prototypes, and then test the structure to uncover ways of improving it.

This project is comprised of these components.

P0 - Team Contract (1%)

P0 is a team contract component. You will establish working norms for your team with this contract.

P0 - Project Outline Presentation (4%)

This is a short initial assessment of your team's selected website before learning the material of the course.

P1 - (20% - Individual)

P1 is the first project component. Here, you will prepare a document outlining an Human-Computer-Interaction design problem they want to resolve. This will consist of a problem description, analyses of Context, Content, and Users, a summary of results, and a summary of how the data collected will inform. the design of the user interface. The written component is written individually, and a short presentation component may be required with your group. Each person will share their assessment with their group before proceeding to P2.

P2 (15% - Group)

P2 is the second project component. Here, you will use all data collected from P1 to conduct a mental model elicitation (card sorting; including elicitation methodology and results), and generate an schematic diagram and preliminary sketches of the proposed solution. A short presentation component may be required.

P3 (15% - Group - including written, prototype and presentation)

P3 is the third project component. You will build a clickable medium fidelity prototype (wireframe) focusing on the design of the    user interface. You will provide a rationale about how you used HCI and design principles (e.g., navigation, labelling, organization, search, etc.) when designing and implementing your solution. Your team will present to show the project that you worked on through the term. Additionally, each team will be asked to peer review other group's presentations.

Final Test (25% - Individual):

   Held in final class

   Individual

NOTES:

   Assignments are due at the beginning of class the week of the listed due date unless announced otherwise. Please pay very close attention to delivery requirements as assignments that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted.

   Some take-home assignments may be consolidated and combined depending on class progression and tofacilitate improved learning. This will be communicated in advance in-class and via Quercus.

   While the use of online resources is encouraged and recommended to help with labs and assignments, all work submitted must be original. Any/all code/design/template/framework used from another source must be cited with permission and adapted to your own work. Any/all media/copy must be original work produced by the student, and cited accordingly in the interface.

Teaching Methods

This course will combine theoretical knowledge and applied design skills to enable the learner to conceptualize UXD concepts related to HCI.

As a project-based course, we will have an instructor-led portion of most classes, and an asynchronous/groupwork portion to many of the classes that revolves around the project tasks.

This course will use a combination of lecture, group activities, tutorials, and self-directed projects. This includes workshop/studio activities.

In order to fully participate in the activities, it is expected that everyone attends the class and tutorials at the scheduled time.

To fully gain the knowledge of the course, it is expected that you attend each class on time. Please plan to attend the live sessions as scheduled.

Though the course content will demonstrate many technologies and creative design approaches, as well as applications in the field, the project will require some self-taught skills.

As a hands-on, discuss course, attendance at all modules is expected. If you must miss a class due to illness or a justifiable activity, please let the instructor know in advance so that arrangements can be made.

Procedures and Rules

E-Culture Policy

Only student U of T email accounts should be used for course communication and all emails from students must include the course code in the subject line and should be signed with the full student name and student number.

Emergencies and Extenuating Circumstances

Everyone faces challenges occasionally. If you have an emergency or extenuating circumstance and are unable to complete a requirement, please discuss the situation with the instructor.

Class Conduct

It is expected that students behave in a professional manner, and unacceptable or unsafe conduct will not be tolerated. Out of respect for all course participants, please refrain from recording videos or audio, using SnapChat, Instagram Stories, E-mail,  WhatsApp etc, or in any other medium. Even if it is to share every exciting moment of the class :)

It is your responsibility to read your U of T email on a regular basis. This will ensure that you receive important information from your instructors and the university.

It is your responsibility to read your email regularly and check course information updates and announcements through Quercus. Students who choose to opt out of receiving messages through Quercus are still responsible for actions required, or changes communicated through those announcements and messages.

Generative AI Tools in the Class

This course focuses on the development of professional and research skills, and there may be areas where use of Generative AI (such as ChatGPT and similar tools) may enhance the educational experience. Students may be able to utilize Generative AI tools for some of these tasks, as announced by the instructor. However, it is important to note that using Generative AI to write entire assignments, reports, or other major assignments for this course without explicit permission will not be permitted and will diminish the critical thinking skills that are a learning outcome. Students are expected to understand and abide by the principles of academic  integrity when using these tools.

It is your responsibility to read your U of T email on a regular basis. This will ensure that you receive important information from your instructors and the university.

It is your responsibility to read your email regularly and check course information updates and announcements through Quercus. Students who choose to opt out of receiving messages through Quercus are still responsible for actions required, or changes communicated through those announcements and messages.

Learning Technology

This course is a technology-based course, and you will use your computer to develop projects. Also, although the course is primarily in-person, the course will have some online activities as announced by the instructor, so you will need suitable technology.

The system requirements for the technologies will vary depending on the nature of the project you select, but assume your system needs to be able to:

·  Have administrative permissions to install programs

·  Have a webcam and microphone to join a Zoom call, record content, and to facilitate groupwork

·  Have sufficient internet bandwidth to handle media content we are creating or using - for example, when testing a ·  classmates project

Most activities should work fine with a Windows or Mac computer, but you may need to install tools to complete the projects.

Potential software:

·  Adobe CC with XD, Illustrator, Photoshop

·  Balsamiq, Figma, Miro, Axure

Late Penalties

You are expected to complete assignments on time. There will be a penalty for lateness of 10% deducted per day and work that is not handed in one week after the due date will not be accepted.

Accommodation for Missed Tests and Late Assignments

Starting Summer 2024, students must use the new UTM Special Consideration Request [Pilot] application for all ICCIT courses.

Students in CCT109H5, CCT110H5, CCT111H5, CCT112H5 and CCT208H5 should always follow the Special Consideration Request (SCR) process outlined below. Students in other classes should follow the process below only if they are seeking accommodationfor tests or assignments worth 20% or more of the final grade. Students in other classes seeking accommodation for tests or assignments worthless than 20% should contact their instructors directly.

Reasons for special consideration could include:

·  Accident

   Illness

   Emergency procedure

●     Bereavement

   University-sponsored athletics/competitions

   Compulsory legal duties e.g. (jury duty)

   Religious accommodations

   Disability accommodations

Reasons for special consideration do not include*:

   Pre-planned vacations or social commitments

   Transportation delays

   Technology malfunctions

   Time management, course loads

   Course conflicts, team work conflicts

   Misreading a deadline/timetable

•  Late course enrolment

   Scheduled elective medical appointments

* For these situations, refer to your course syllabus and speak directly with your instructor.

SCR Process:

You have three days or 72 Hours (including weekends) from the assignment deadline or date of the missed test/quiz to complete the SCR process in full.

The first time in the semester that you are seeking accommodation, please complete the following steps:

1.  Login to ACORN, and click on Profile & Settings from the left-hand menu.

2.  Click on Absence Declaration

3.  Record each day that you are absent – as soon as it begins up until the day you return to campus for classes or other activities.

4.  Login to the UTM Special Consideration Request [Pilot] application system and complete the required steps. Documentation is not required.

For all subsequent times that you require an accommodation, you should only login to the the UTM Special Consideration

Request [Pilot] application system and complete the required steps. Documentation is not required, however, it may be requested after the SCR has been reviewed. On your SCR form, please attach a screenshot from Quercus showing the assessment title and   deadline. This will help us process your SCR accurately and avoid any misunderstandings.

Important note about missed makeup tests: As stated in the Academic Calendar, "If the student is granted permission to take a makeup test and misses it, then they are assigned a mark of zero for the test unless the instructor is satisfied that missing the makeup test was unavoidable. Students are not automatically entitled to a second makeup test."

If you are registered with AccessAbility at UTM and/or Accessible Learning Services at Sheridan, and the reason for missing a test or a deadline pertains to a disability, you are still required to submit an SCR at the link above. In such cases, the department will accept documentation supplied by the UTM AccessAbility Resource Centre. If you require further information, please speak with   your accessibility services advisor. Please see the section on "AccessAbility" for more information.

Further details regarding SCR policy are available here: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/iccit/student-resources/policies- procedures/special-consideration-requests-scr-late-assignments

Re-marking Pieces of Term Work

General

A student who believes that his or her written term work has been unfairly marked may ask the person who marked the work for re- evaluation. Students have up to one month from the date of return of an item of term work or from the date the mark was made available to inquire about the mark and file for an appeal. For example, should the work be returned or the mark be made available on March 3rd, the student has until April 3rd to inquire in writing and start the re-marking process. Instructors must acknowledge receipt of a student request for re-marking within 3-working days, and decisions should be provided in a timely fashion.

If an academic misconduct case is in progress for the piece of term work in question, a student may not appeal until the matter is resolved.

Details

Regrade requests for term work worth less than 20% of the final mark may be submitted to the person who marked the work for re-evaluation. The student must submit ( 1) the original piece of work and (2) a written explanation detailing why they believe the work was unfairly/incorrectly marked. If the student is not satisfied with this re-evaluation, he or she may appeal to the instructor in charge of the course if the work was not marked by the instructor (e.g., was marked by a TA). In these instances where the instructor was not the one who marked the work, the student must now submit to the instructor ( 1) the original piece of work,     (2) the written reasons as to why he or she believes the work was unfairly/incorrectly marked, and (3) communications from the

original marker as to why no change in mark was made. If a re-marking is granted by an instructor, the student must accept the

resulting mark as the new mark, whether it goes up or down or remains the same. Continuing with the remark or the appeal means the student accepts this condition. Instructors and TAs should ensure all communication with the student is in writing (e.g. follow- up email) and keep a copy for later reference.

Only term work worth at least 20% of the course mark may be appealed beyond the instructor. Such appeals must first follow the same guidelines as those mentioned directly above for work worthless than 20%. To escalate an appeal beyond the instructor, the    student must submit to the department ( 1) all previous communications between the student, original marker, and the instructor (2)

the detailed reason(s) documenting why the mark for the work was inappropriate and (3) the original piece of work. If the

department believes that re-marking is justified, the department shall select an independent reader. The student must agree in

writing to be bound by the results of the re-reading process or abandon the appeal. Again, the student must accept that the mark

resulting from the appeal may be higher or lower or the same as the original mark. Where possible, the independent reader should   be given a clean, anonymous copy of the work. Without knowing the original assigned mark, the reader shall determine a mark for the work. The marking of the work should be considered within the context of the course of instruction for which it was submitted. If the new mark differs substantially from the original mark, the department shall determine a final mark taking into account both   available marks.

The final level of appeal is to theDean’s Office  . Appeals must already have been considered at the two previous levels (Instructor followed by Department), with the decision reviewed by the head of the academic unit, before they will be considered by the

Dean’s Office. Appeals must be submitted in writing, and include all previous correspondence, as soon as possible after the student receives the final response from the academic unit, but no later than one month after. Appeals to the Dean’s Office   about the marking of term work will be reviewed to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed in earlier appeals, that  the student has been treated fairly, and that the standards applied have been consistent with those applied to other students doing

the assignment. Any mark resulting from such an appeal will become the new mark, whether it is higher or lower or the same as the previous one. This process applies only to term work; appeals for re-reads of final examinations are handled directly by the Office   of the Registrar.

Issues Pertaining to Term Work and Instructional Activities

Issues arising within a course that concern the pedagogical relationship of the instructor and the student, such as essays, term work, term tests, grading practices, or conduct of instructors, fall within the authority of the department. Students are entitled to seek

resolution of these issues, either orally or in writing to the course instructor and, if needed, the ICCIT Director for resolution.

Following a response from the ICCIT Director, students may submit an appeal, in writing, to the Vice-Principal, Academic and Dean.

Privacy and Use of Course Materials Notifications

The class may be recorded by the instructor for instructional purposes. These recordings will not be made available generally, as active participation is part of the learning outcomes of this discussion-focused course.