User-Centred Design
Duration
One semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 48 hours face to face + Blended
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
Aims and objectives
This unit of study aims to introduce students to the concept of usability and the process of User-Centred Design as a method of achieving good usability outcomes in software development.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Apply an evidence-based approach to software requirements elicitation and specification.
2. Demonstrate an explicit understanding of software context of use (i.e., users, tasks and system environment) using a variety of models.
3. Design and build a prototype user interface according to software requirements and usability design principles.
4. Apply a variety of usability evaluation methods to evaluate and iterate user interface design solutions.
5. Describe and apply guidelines for professional practice in the ethical treatment of human research participants.
6. Implement and reflect on strategies for working in small groups.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Apply an evidence-based approach to software requirements elicitation and specification.
2. Demonstrate an explicit understanding of software context of use (i.e., users, tasks and system environment) using a variety of models.
3. Design and build a prototype user interface according to software requirements and usability design principles.
4. Apply a variety of usability evaluation methods to evaluate and iterate user interface design solutions.
5. Describe and apply guidelines for professional practice in the ethical treatment of human research participants.
6. Implement and reflect on strategies for working in small groups.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
Face to Face Contact Lecture | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| Tutorial | 2 | 12 | 24 |
Unspecified Learning Activities Independent Learning | 9.5 | 12 | 102 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Project | Individual/Group | 60-80% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
| Online Tests | Individual | 10-20% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Quizzes | Individual | 10-20% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Minimum requirements to pass this unit
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass the unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) An aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) Obtain at least 40% in the final exam
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass the unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) An aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) Obtain at least 40% in the final exam
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
Content
• ISO User-Centred Design process and principles
• Usability as a component of software quality
• Understanding and modelling context of use (users, tasks, and system environment)
• Requirements elicitation and specification
• Ethics of human research
• Usability design principles, guidelines and standards
• Conceptual design and iterative prototyping
• Usability evaluation methods
• Psychological principles
• Usability as a component of software quality
• Understanding and modelling context of use (users, tasks, and system environment)
• Requirements elicitation and specification
• Ethics of human research
• Usability design principles, guidelines and standards
• Conceptual design and iterative prototyping
• Usability evaluation methods
• Psychological principles
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.