Integrated Studies 1 - Masters 2004 Course Description | |
| Contact information |
Dr Geraldine Fitzpatrick Email: geraldin@sussex.ac.uk Where: Room 5A8 Pevensey II
|
| Office hours |
Tuesdays 9-10am
Also possible by appointment, arranged via email, or by drop-in for short queries if you really need some fast action (but no guarantees on this)
|
| Purpose |
1) To evaluate and integrate issues and topics in Human Centred Computing Systems, by providing opportunities to reflect on, synthesise and gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental concerns, perspectives and interdisciplinary nature of this area. In particular we will be doing this through looking at emergent technologies and issues that move beyond more ëtraditionalí concerns, i.e.:
2) To support the development of research, design and study skills through literature reviews, cases studies involving the critique of systems, presentations, group discussion of research and hands-on engagement with tangible interface toolkits. On completion of the course, you will have a working knowledge of diverse and emergent areas within human centred technologies. You will also have practical experiences of the issues engaging with some of these technologies from a user-centred perspective, specifically tangible interactive technologies and CSCW technologies.
|
| Structure |
2 hr seminar: to be held on Thursdays 9-11 in room Mantell 1A12 (some weeks seminars might be changed to Tuesdays - these will be discussed and agreed in advance) The seminars will focus around group discussion of specified papers and the issues they raise. The seminars will be highly interactive and will require all students to actively participate. Expected participation will include: group work, preparation and reading before seminars, and active involvement via short presentations, hands-on activities and discussion. Different students will lead the discussion each week. For the papers selected that week, the chairs should:
Online shared workspace: Participation is also expected in an online shared workspace. We will begin by using Microsoft SharePoint. Go to https://portal.informatics.scitech.sussex.ac.uk/default.aspx, select the 'Integrated Studies 1' and log in. The workspace supports discussions, collections of documents, links and various other resources. The value of this group space will depend entirely on your contributions to it. The purpose of this workspace is to provide hands-on experience of using a type CSCW application and engaging in group work through this medium. Should needs arise in the course of the term that are not met by this workspace, other online alternatives will be explored. The experience of using this (and any other similar) system will provide the basis of Assignment 1 (see below). Studio workshop: An Integrated Studies studio workshop, Pev III room 3D3, will be used from weeks 4 - 8, to conduct hands-on group work to develop tangible interfaces using the Phidget toolkit. (See http://grouplab.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/phidgets/). More details about this work will be provided closer to the time. The experiences of using this toolkit will provide the basis for Assignments 2 & 3, a group presentation of the tangible interface developed and the issues around using the toolkit, and an individual assignment where you consider the design of an interface to the toolkit so that non-technical people can use it.
|
| The student | If you are enrolled in this course, you are a Masters
student at the University of Sussex.
You
should already have an undergraduate degree in computer science,
cognitive science or related area. It is expected that you have a basic
understanding of the software development lifecycle and techniques. It is also assumed that you are self-motivated, that
you know how to use a library to conduct research (not just a web search!)
and that you are responsible for your own learning.
|
| Course texts and resources |
There is no set text for this course. Readings will be made available
for each week; these will either de downloadable or made available in
hard copy in a folder in the Master lab (to be photocopied and
returned). The Uni of Sussex library holds many texts that you will find of interest: go to the library catalogue to search on keywords arising out of the topics for the week.
|
| Assessment | Note: The numbering of the assignments below reflect the formal
departmental documentation. The practical chronological order is Assignment
3 (likely to
be week 8), then Assignments 1 and 2 (week 2 of Spring term). Assignment 1: Report of the online workspace - 1000 words; 30% weighting; due Monday (12 noon) Week 2 Spring term. The report should evaluate how effectively the online workspace (or other tool that is used) supported group interaction and your own learning. Draw on the themes of the readings and other material from HCCS courses that involve evaluation. Specify the scope and criteria for your evaluation and explain the methodology (evaluation technique) you used. Assignments 2 and 3: Engagement with tangible user interface toolkits Assignment 2: - 1400 - 2500 words research and design report (elsewhere called 'reflective report on system redesign'); 40% weighting; due Monday (12 noon) Week 2 Spring term. This report is based on re-design work you have undertaken for the tangible interface toolkit where you design an interface to the toolkit itself so that non-technical people are able to engage with it. The report should describe your thinking and the processes leading to the re-designed interface, including the audience for which it is intended. It is expected that a user-centred design approach will be followed. Relevant literature should be included as appropriate to position the re-design appropriately. The issues, frameworks, and theories covered in the readings should inform your evaluation and re-design of the interface; as should ideas from other HCCS courses. An interactive prototype should be created that can be used for demonstration purposes (e.g., using PowerPoint, story boards, simple web site, tangible tokens etc). Assignment 3: - 30 minute group presentation; 30% weighting (20% for group mark; 10% for individual mark as collated from each individual's assessment of each other person's contribution in the group; process to be agreed with the class) Tentatively scheduled for week 8 seminar. The presentation should involve a discussion of the tangible user interface that was built, the design motivations and intended uses/users; a demonstration of the interface; and a discussion of the issues experienced in trying to use the interface toolkit. NOTE: Details of the assignments will be handed out in seminars and will be made available in the SharePoint Workspace. Assignment deadlines are strictly enforced. Ensure you have fully understood the regulations about misconduct (including collusion and plagiarism) as set out in the General Assessment Handbook: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/academic/academicoffice/committees/graduate/handbooks/index.shtml Useful online resources for referencing and writing skills:
|