CS 428+730 in Winter 2024

Schedule

Links

• Syllabus (pdf)
• UR Courses
• Meetings Calendar file (meetings.ics)
• Interaction Design (6th edition)
• The Design of Everyday Things - Revised and Expanded Edition
• Psychology (2nd edition) from openstax.org
• The Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction (2nd edition)
• NN/g Nielsen Norman Group

Assignments

Empathize ()

• Marks: 8
• Due Date: 27-Feb-2024 @ 23:59
• Discuss
• Submit

Empathize

This assignment can be done individually or in groups

You have been made a TEACHER in a course on UR Courses, so that you can gain a different perspective on UR Courses (because you are normally a STUDENT).

For this assignment, please define and describe an activity that a teacher could create for their students that includes one UR Courses “activity” that allows a grade to be assigned upon completion and one UR Courses “resource” whose access is restricted based on the grade earned on the “activity”. As you complete your activity with the UR Courses interface, reflect on your experience.

Specifically, you are asked to:

1. Define and describe an activity that meets the requirements

2. Create an empathy map while you complete your activity within your course on UR Courses:
   1. claim 1 “Section” by changing the label to your own name (there are enough blank sections for everyone - so be nice and don’t claim someone else’s section!)
   2. add to your section:
      1. One “activity” that allows you to assign a grade upon completion
      2. One “resource” whose access is restricted based on the grade earned from your activity
3. Describe whatever opportunities for redesign that you find by relating it (or them) in terms of your personal experience of completing your activity.

Submission

• submit a single pdf document on UR Courses
• target: 1 page for a description of your activity with 1 page for a screen capture of your Section, 1 page for the empathy map and 1-2 pages for the opportunities for redesign

Grading

This assignment is worth 8 marks, according to the following rubric:

Rubric

DePaul Univerity’s Center for Teaching and Learning has a useful resource describing the process of creating rubrics. Your comments about the following rubric are welcome via email

Calculator

Rubric Criteria

Activity Described (2.0) criteria_M_URCT Choose... Exemplary (+): Includes everything as requested Exemplary: Includes everything as requested Exemplary (-): Includes everything as requested Sufficient (+): Includes mostly all as requested Sufficient: Includes mostly all as requested Sufficient (-): Includes mostly all as requested Developing (+): Not described as requested Developing: Not described as requested Developing (-): Not described as requested Needs Improvement: Not described

Activity Completed (2.0) criteria_M_URCT Choose... Exemplary (+): Everything done as requested Exemplary: Everything done as requested Exemplary (-): Everything done as requested Sufficient (+): Mostly done as requested Sufficient: Mostly done as requested Sufficient (-): Mostly done as requested Developing (+): Not done as requested Developing: Not done as requested Developing (-): Not done as requested Needs Improvement: Not completed

Empathy Map (2.0) criteria_M_URCT Choose... Exemplary (+): All quadrants done well Exemplary: All quadrants done well Exemplary (-): All quadrants done well Sufficient (+): Entries in all quadrants Sufficient: Entries in all quadrants Sufficient (-): Entries in all quadrants Developing (+): Few entries, lacking detail Developing: Few entries, lacking detail Developing (-): Few entries, lacking detail Needs Improvement: Substantially incomplete

Opportunities for Redesign (2.0) criteria_M_URCT Choose... Exemplary (+): Thoroughly explored Exemplary: Thoroughly explored Exemplary (-): Thoroughly explored Sufficient (+): Complete Sufficient: Complete Sufficient (-): Complete Developing (+): Lacks detail Developing: Lacks detail Developing (-): Lacks detail Needs Improvement: Opportunities not identified

Penalties

None (on-time and followed instructions)

Instructions not followed

Assignment submitted late, but within 48 hours

Assignment submitted more than 48 hours late and before cut-off date

Assignment not submitted before cut-off date

Output

Evaluate Copy Output to Clipboard Clear Form

Understand Your Project ()

• Marks: 8
• Due Date: 19-Mar-2024 @ 23:59
• Discuss
• Submit

Understand Your Project

In consultation with the members of your group, select a single facet of groups within moodle (UR Courses) for which you will identify opportunities for redesign and improvement. Use the “Experiment with UR Courses” course, where you have teacher-like access to gain experience with groups in UR Courses. Remember to choose just one use of or interface to groups: You will find groups under the Participants menu on the main course page where there are 3 choices for groups, groupings, and overview; in the settings page for Assignments; in the submissions page for Assignments; in the group members resource; in the enrolled users list, also under the Participants menu; and doubtless other places where their impact is felt. Dr. Hepting will be happy to provide stories about using groups in UR Courses. You may also check the moodle documentation and moodle forums for information. You might identify issues with consistency, efficiency, or missing functionality, to name a few.

This is the first of three parts to the project, which mirror the 3 stages of the design thinking process (as described by the Nielsen Norman Group): understand, explore, and materialize.

The understand stage, comprising empathize and define steps, is the focus of this assignment. Focus on a well-defined activity that a well-defined user is trying to perform.

1. describe: your group will describe, with sufficient detail to be relatable, an activity and a user wanting to complete that activity.
2. empathize: each member of your group will create an empathy map (1) for that activity.
3. define: together as a group, identify specific aspects of the current interface that cause problems for the users and look to examine the roots of those problems. Identify whatever user needs may be unmet.

Remember that this stage is concerned with understanding the opportunities for redesign of your selected aspect of groups within UR Courses. Do not provide solutions or fixes now: that will come later.

Submission

• submit a pdf document (1 per group) on UR Courses that includes all three parts (describe, empathize, and define). Take care to demonstrate a good command of Standard English (correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation) so that your audience won’t have trouble reading your work.

Grading

This assignment is worth 8 marks, according to the following rubric:

Rubric

DePaul Univerity’s Center for Teaching and Learning has a useful resource describing the process of creating rubrics. Your comments about the following rubric are welcome via email

Calculator

Rubric Criteria

Description of Activities (2) criteria_MG1_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): Clear and compelling Exemplary: Clear and compelling Exemplary (-): Clear and compelling Sufficient (+): Concrete Sufficient: Concrete Sufficient (-): Concrete Developing (+): Lacks detail Developing: Lacks detail Developing (-): Lacks detail Needs Improvement: Substantially missing

Description of Users (1) criteria_MG1_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): Clear and compelling Exemplary: Clear and compelling Exemplary (-): Clear and compelling Sufficient (+): Concrete Sufficient: Concrete Sufficient (-): Concrete Developing (+): Lacks detail Developing: Lacks detail Developing (-): Lacks detail Needs Improvement: Substantially missing

Empathy Maps (2) criteria_MG1_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): All quadrants done well by all Exemplary: All quadrants done well by all Exemplary (-): All quadrants done well by all Sufficient (+): Entries in all quadrants Sufficient: Entries in all quadrants Sufficient (-): Entries in all quadrants Developing (+): Few entries, lacking detail Developing: Few entries, lacking detail Developing (-): Few entries, lacking detail Needs Improvement: Substantially incomplete

Problems and Unmet Needs (2.0) criteria_MG1_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): Thoroughly explored and documented (without indicating solutions) Exemplary: Thoroughly explored and documented (without indicating solutions) Exemplary (-): Thoroughly explored and documented (without indicating solutions) Sufficient (+): Quite complete Sufficient: Quite complete Sufficient (-): Quite complete Developing (+): Not enough requirements or detail Developing: Not enough requirements or detail Developing (-): Not enough requirements or detail Needs Improvement: Missing requirements and detail

Writing (1.0) criteria_MG1_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): Shows a good command of Standard English. No problems for your audience Exemplary: Shows a good command of Standard English. No problems for your audience Exemplary (-): Shows a good command of Standard English. No problems for your audience Sufficient (+): Demonstrates evidence of correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Audience will have little trouble reading your work Sufficient: Demonstrates evidence of correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Audience will have little trouble reading your work Sufficient (-): Demonstrates evidence of correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Audience will have little trouble reading your work Developing (+): Some errors, audience may have some trouble reading your work Developing: Some errors, audience may have some trouble reading your work Developing (-): Some errors, audience may have some trouble reading your work Needs Improvement: Consistently uses incorrect grammar, spelling, and syntax that makes it difficult for others to follow

Penalties

None (on-time and followed instructions)

Instructions not followed

Assignment submitted late, but within 48 hours

Assignment submitted more than 48 hours late and before cut-off date

Assignment not submitted before cut-off date

Output

Evaluate Copy Output to Clipboard Clear Form

Explore Project ()

• Marks: 8
• Due Date: 26-Mar-2024 @ 23:59
• Discuss
• Submit

Explore Project

Based on your understanding, design!

Recall the diagram that illustrated the article about Design Thinking from the Nielsen Norman Group. We are now moving to the explore phase.

The focus now shifts from understanding the problems to proposing solutions for those problems. Using the results from the “Understand” part, continue with the specific activity that your representative user will perform.

Consider how the user will complete the activity:

• which interface metaphors (see Sections 3.4 and 12.3 in textbook) would be suitable to help users understand the activities?
• which interaction type(s) (see Section 3.5 in textbook) would best support the users’ activities?
• do different interface types suggest alternative design insights or options?

Choose 2 different metaphors and design an interface for each of the metaphors that you choose. For both interfaces:

• Create a low-fidelity prototype (see Section 12.2 in textbook)
• Write a scenario (see Section 11.5 in textbook) that includes details of the information presented and interaction undertaken. Analyze your scenario for positive and negative aspects then include your findings

Submission

• submit a pdf document (1 per group)

Grading

This assignment is worth 8 marks, according to the following rubric:

Rubric

DePaul Univerity’s Center for Teaching and Learning has a useful resource describing the process of creating rubrics. Your comments about the following rubric are welcome via email

Calculator

Rubric Criteria

Interface A Low-Fidelity Prototype (Sketch) (2.0) criteria_MG2_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): clear and complete Exemplary: clear and complete Exemplary (-): clear and complete Sufficient (+): comprehensible Sufficient: comprehensible Sufficient (-): comprehensible Developing (+): mostly complete Developing: mostly complete Developing (-): mostly complete Needs Improvement: incomplete

Interface A Description (2.0) criteria_MG2_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): thoughtful and thorough Exemplary: thoughtful and thorough Exemplary (-): thoughtful and thorough Sufficient (+): thorough Sufficient: thorough Sufficient (-): thorough Developing (+): mostly complete Developing: mostly complete Developing (-): mostly complete Needs Improvement: incomplete

Interface B Low-Fidelity Prototype (Sketch) (2.0) criteria_MG2_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): clear and complete Exemplary: clear and complete Exemplary (-): clear and complete Sufficient (+): comprehensible Sufficient: comprehensible Sufficient (-): comprehensible Developing (+): mostly complete Developing: mostly complete Developing (-): mostly complete Needs Improvement: incomplete

Interface B Description (2.0) criteria_MG2_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): thoughtful and thorough Exemplary: thoughtful and thorough Exemplary (-): thoughtful and thorough Sufficient (+): thorough Sufficient: thorough Sufficient (-): thorough Developing (+): mostly complete Developing: mostly complete Developing (-): mostly complete Needs Improvement: incomplete

Penalties

None (on-time and followed instructions)

Instructions not followed

Assignment submitted late, but within 48 hours

Assignment submitted more than 48 hours late and before cut-off date

Assignment not submitted before cut-off date

Output

Evaluate Copy Output to Clipboard Clear Form

Materialize Project ()

• Marks: 8
• Due Date: 9-Apr-2024 @ 23:59
• Discuss
• Submit

Materialize

Based on your designs, test and refine.

Recall the diagram that illustrated the article about Design Thinking from the Nielsen Norman Group. We are now moving to the materialize phase.

The focus now shifts to testing your low-fidelity prototypes. Divide your group evenly into 2 sub-groups. Each sub-group will conduct 1 test with 1 of your 2 low-fidelity interface prototypes, so that you will have both of your low-fidelity prototypes tested. Use UR Courses to coordinate a sub-group of a diffent project group focusing on a different aspect of UR Courses. Each sub-group should run a test and be the subjects for the other’s test.

In your tests, you are asking someone to take on a role as your user and then complete the task for which you are redesigning the interface. Explain the task and ask your participant to perform the task, without giving instructions about how to do it. This information will be recorded in a script, that all group members will use to run their tests. Writing and reviewing the script is a group effort. Once you start testing with your participants, do not make any changes to your script.

You may find the downloads related to the ZipCar website test useful.

During your tests, you will collect both quantitative and qualitative data and you will also make notes.

You should submit all of your raw data and submit a summary of how it was collected: by whom, from whom, when, and where. Your group will collect data from 1 test of your Interface A and 1 test of your Interface B. Both tests will use the same script and other materials.

Provide a commentary on your data. Did the data that you collected reveal any agreement or disagreement about your interface designs? Were the results surprising in any way?

Based on your experience with your project and your testing of your low-fidelity prototypes, create a single interface design that combines the best ideas from your two low-fidelity prototypes and any other sources.

Submission

• submit a pdf document (1 per group)

Grading

This assignment is worth 8 marks, according to the following rubric:

Rubric

DePaul Univerity’s Center for Teaching and Learning has a useful resource describing the process of creating rubrics. Your comments about the following rubric are welcome via email

Calculator

Rubric Criteria

Script and Materials (2.0) criteria_MG3_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): thoughtful and thorough Exemplary: thoughtful and thorough Exemplary (-): thoughtful and thorough Sufficient (+): thorough Sufficient: thorough Sufficient (-): thorough Developing (+): mostly complete Developing: mostly complete Developing (-): mostly complete Needs Improvement: incomplete

Data and Notes from Test Sessions (2.0) criteria_MG3_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): clear and complete Exemplary: clear and complete Exemplary (-): clear and complete Sufficient (+): comprehensible Sufficient: comprehensible Sufficient (-): comprehensible Developing (+): mostly complete Developing: mostly complete Developing (-): mostly complete Needs Improvement: incomplete

Explanation of and rationale for design choices made in the single refined interface design representation (4) criteria_MG3_3 Choose... Exemplary (+): thoughtful and thorough Exemplary: thoughtful and thorough Exemplary (-): thoughtful and thorough Sufficient (+): thorough Sufficient: thorough Sufficient (-): thorough Developing (+): mostly complete Developing: mostly complete Developing (-): mostly complete Needs Improvement: incomplete

Penalties

None (on-time and followed instructions)

Instructions not followed

Assignment submitted late, but within 48 hours

Assignment submitted more than 48 hours late and before cut-off date

Assignment not submitted before cut-off date

Output

Evaluate Copy Output to Clipboard Clear Form

Zoom v ProctorTrack ()

• Marks: 8
• Due Date: 12-Apr-2024 @ 23:59
• Discuss
• Submit

Description

You are asked to compare your experience using Zoom breakout rooms for the midterm with your experience being onboarded for Proctortrack for the final exam.

To prepare to do this comparison and to take the final exam, follow the instructions for “Proctortrack Onboarding and Practice Exam” (at this link) and “Onboarding Quiz” (at this link). All students should complete this step for themselves and provide proof of their successful completion of onboarding for Proctortrack.

Specifically, you are asked to:

1. Describe the steps that you undertake to perform the “Proctortrack Onboarding and Practice Exam” and “Onboarding Quiz” activities and share your user experience from completing the “Proctortrack Onboarding and Practice Exam” and “Onboarding Quiz” activities. Provide proof that your onboarding has been completed.
2. Reflect on the usability and user experience goals that you find applicable to your experience of completing the activities. (ID-Book: 6th Ed., Section 1.9; 5th Ed., Section 1.7) and phrase each of the applicable usability and user experience goals as questions that can be used to evaluate the Proctortrack interface. They may be based on issues that you have come across with while completing the activities.
3. Suggest possible improvements for the “Proctortrack Onboarding and Practice Exam” and “Onboarding Quiz” activities, that will answer the questions that you asked.
4. Compare the Proctortrack experience with the one you had while using Zoom breakout rooms during the midterm.

Submission

• submit a single pdf document on UR Courses

Grading

This assignment is worth 8 marks, according to the following rubric:

Rubric

DePaul Univerity’s Center for Teaching and Learning has a useful resource describing the process of creating rubrics. Your comments about the following rubric are welcome via email

Calculator

Rubric Criteria

Onboarding complete (2.0) criteria_ZvPT Choose... Exemplary (+): Exemplary: Exemplary (-): Sufficient (+): Sufficient: Sufficient (-): Developing (+): Developing: Developing (-): Needs Improvement:

Questions (2.0) criteria_ZvPT Choose... Exemplary (+): Right questions asked Exemplary: Right questions asked Exemplary (-): Right questions asked Sufficient (+): Missing one question Sufficient: Missing one question Sufficient (-): Missing one question Developing (+): Lack relevance Developing: Lack relevance Developing (-): Lack relevance Needs Improvement: No questions

Suggested Improvements (2.0) criteria_ZvPT Choose... Exemplary (+): Thoughtful suggestions Exemplary: Thoughtful suggestions Exemplary (-): Thoughtful suggestions Sufficient (+): Sufficient Sufficient: Sufficient Sufficient (-): Sufficient Developing (+): Lacks relevance Developing: Lacks relevance Developing (-): Lacks relevance Needs Improvement: Opportunities not identified

Comparison with Zoom breakout rooms used for the midterm (2.0) criteria_ZvPT Choose... Exemplary (+): Exemplary: Exemplary (-): Sufficient (+): Sufficient: Sufficient (-): Developing (+): Developing: Developing (-): Needs Improvement:

Penalties

None (on-time and followed instructions)

Instructions not followed

Assignment submitted late, but within 48 hours

Assignment submitted more than 48 hours late and before cut-off date

Assignment not submitted before cut-off date

Output

Evaluate Copy Output to Clipboard Clear Form

Exams

• 202230 Final
• 202230 Midterm
• 202030 Midterm
• 201930 Final
• 201930 Midterm
• 201830 Final
• 201830 Midterm
• 201730 Final
• 201730 Midterm
• 201630 Final
• 201630 Midterm