Title (Units): COMP4045 Human-Computer Interaction (3,2,1)

Course Aims: HCI is an interdisciplinary field that integrates theories and methodologies from
computer science, cognitive psychology, design, and many other areas. Issues
include: command languages, menus, forms, and direct manipulation, graphical
user interfaces, computer supported cooperative work, information search and
visualization, World Wide Web design, input/output devices, and display design.
Students will learn the fundamental concepts of human-computer interaction and
user-centered design thinking. Students will work on both individual and team
projects to design, implement and evaluate computer interfaces.

Prerequisite: COMP2015 Data Structures and Algorithms or Any other ITEC course at Level 2 or
above

Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

No. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)

Knowledge
1 Describe and apply core theories, models and methodologies from the field of HCI
2 Describe what the user-centered design cycle is and explain how to practice this approach to design
interactive software systems
3 Analyze one after another the main features of interactive systems, and explain how to gauge the
usability of digital environments, tools and interfaces
Professional Skill
4 Conduct user and task analysis
5 Implement graphical user interfaces with modern software tools
6 Critique and evaluate interactive software using guidelines from human factor theories

Calendar Description: This course provides an introduction to and overview of the field of human-
computer interaction (HCI).

Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs):

CILOs Type of TLA

1-6 Students will learn the concepts via lectures and in-class exercises.
1-6 Students will be assigned labs and assignments to promote their skills.
4-6 Students will be assigned projects to promote their knowledge and skills.

Assessment:

No. Assessment Weighting CILOs to be Description of Assessment Tasks

Methods addressed
1 Continuous 30% 3-6 30% is allocated for the group project, for which
Assessment – students are required to implement and evaluate a
Group prototype in a small team.
Project
2 Continuous 20% 3-6 20% is allocated for lab exercise and individual
Assessment – assignments.
Lab exercises
and
Individual
Assignments
3 Examination 50% 1-4 The final examination is designed to evaluate
students’ understanding in different parts. The
questions will include fundamental, analytic and
design types in order to distinguish different levels
of understanding of human computer interaction
design.

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Assessment Rubrics:

Excellent (A)  Achieve all the six CILOs, demonstrating an excellent mastery of both the
theoretical and practical aspects of the knowledge and skills in the selected
topics
 Able to develop correct solutions to problems in human-computer interaction,
accompanied by in-depth analysis and insight
 Demonstrate a thorough understanding and solid knowledge of the principles
and techniques of human-computer interaction
 Able to draw on a variety of techniques and relevant knowledge and
appropriately apply them to new situations and real-life problems
Good (B)  Achieve all the six CILOs, demonstrating a good understanding of the
associated concepts and underlying methodologies in the selected topics
 Able to develop correct solutions to problems in human-computer interaction,
accompanied by adequate explanations
 Demonstrate a competent level of knowledge of the principles and techniques
of human-computer interaction
 Ability to make use of appropriate techniques and knowledge and apply them
to new situations and problems
Satisfactory (C)  Achieve most of the six CILOs, demonstrating a basic level of understanding
of the associated concepts and underlying methodologies in the selected topics
 Able to provide acceptable solutions to problems in human-computer
interaction
 Demonstrate an adequate level of knowledge of the principles and techniques
of human-computer interaction
 Ability to make use of some techniques and knowledge and apply them to
familiar situations and problems
Marginal Pass (D)  Achieve most of the six CILOs, with minimal understanding of the associated
concepts and underlying methodologies in the selected topics
 Able to provide solutions to simple problems in human-computer interaction
 Demonstrate a basic level of knowledge of the principles and techniques of
human-computer interaction
 Ability to apply some techniques and knowledge to a limited number of
typical situations and problems
Fail (F)  Achieve less than four of the six CILOs, with little understanding of the
associated concepts and underlying methodologies in the selected topics
 Unable to provide solutions to simple problems in human-computer
interaction
 Knowledge of the principles and techniques of human-computer interaction
falling below the basic minimum level
 Unable to apply techniques or knowledge to familiar situations or problems

Course Content and CILOs Mapping:

Content CILO No. Hours

I Introduction and Human Computer Interaction 1 12
II HCI Design Process 2, 3 15
III Designing and Conducting Experiments 3, 4, 6 6
IV Tools & the Future 3, 5 6

References:
 Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction, 4th Edition by Jenny Preece, Helen Sharp,
Yvonne Rogers, John Wiley & Sons (2015)

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 Human-Computer Interaction: An Empirical Research Perspective, 1st Edition by Scott MacKenzie,
Morgan Kaufmann (2013)
 Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests, 2nd Edition by Jeffrey
Rubin, Dana Chisnell, Jared Spool, Wiley (2008)
 Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction, 6th Edition by
Shneiderman, B., Plaisant, C., Cohen, M. Jacobs, S., Elmqvist, N. and Diakopoulos, Nicholas. Pearson
(2016)

Course Content:

Topic

I. Introduction and Human Computer Interaction

A. Interactivity and interaction design
B. Understanding and conceptualizing interaction
C. Understanding users and how interfaces affect users
D. Heuristics and usability

II. HCI Design Process

A. Process of interaction design
B. Design, prototyping and construction
C. Direct manipulation/mental model
D. Graphic design
E. Information design and data visualization

III. Designing and Conducting Experiments

A. How to design experiments
B. How to analyze study data
C. How to learn and iterate from studies

IV. Tools & the Future

A. Software tools
B. Social software
C. Design for collaboration and communication