Possible MSc Human-Computer Interaction- Course Overview 可能的人機交互理學碩士：課程概述

PROGRAMMESPECIFICATION

UserExperienceDesign,MAandMSc–2009-10 KINGSTONUNIVERSITY

PROGRAMMESPECIFICATION

UserExperienceDesign,MAandMSc–2010-11 KINGSTONUNIVERSITY

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A. NATUREOFTHEAWARD

AwardingInstitution: KingstonUniversity

ProgrammeAccreditedby: BritishComputerSociety

FinalAward(s): MAorMSc

IntermediateAward(s): PGDiploma,PGCertificate

FieldTitle: UserExperienceDesign

FHEQLevelforthefinalaward: Masters

Creditratingbylevel: 180credits@level7

JACscode: G690/W290

QAABenchmarkStatement(s): n/a

MinimumPeriodofRegistration: 1year

MaximumPeriodofRegistration: 2years

Faculty FADA(managing)CISM,FASS,SCI

School CommunicationDesign

Location: PenrhynRoad,KnightsPark

DateSpecificationProduced: May2009

DateSpecificationLastRevised: August2010

B. FEATURESOFTHEFIELD

1. Title: MSc/MAinUserExperienceDesign

Thefieldisavailableinthefollowingforms:Fullfield

2. ModesofDelivery

Thefieldisofferedinthefollowingalternativepatterns:Full-timeorpart-time

3. FeaturesoftheField

UserExperienceDesignconcernsthedesignofhumaninteractionswithdigitaltechnologyfromtheuser’spointofview.Theseinteractionsarenotonlyusefulandusable,butalsopleasantandengaging.MScUserExperienceDesignleanstowardsthedevelopmentandauthoringofmedia-richuserinterfacesandinteractivecontent(text,graphics,audioandvideo)particularlyfortheWeband/orGames.MAUserExperienceDesignleanstowardsthedevelopmentandauthoringofmedia-richuserinterfacesandinteractivecontent(text,graphics,audioandvideo)particularlyfortheWeband/orGames.

TosuccessfullycompletetheMAorMSc,studentsarerequiredtoundertake6coremodules(2commontoDigitalMediaInstitute’ssuiteofmasterscourses,and4commontoUserExperienceDesign),2optionmodulesandaproject.Otherfeaturesare:

Industry-facing–closeinteractionwithindustrypractitioners,workplacementsandliveprojects

DissertationProjectrelevanttoindustry

Industryexpertsteachonthefield

Project-basedcurriculum,whichencouragescollaborative,cross-disciplinarydesign,developmentandproductionpractice

Thefieldismodular,anddeliveredinmixedblockandserialmode.Forexample,somemoduleswillbedeliveredinextended(e.g.)oneweekblocks.Otherswillbedeliveredasshortersessionsatregularintervals(e.g.2-4hrsfortnightlyintervals.

Thefieldismulti-disciplinary–combiningelementsofInteractiveComputerTechnology,BehaviouralScience,Art&DesignandDigitalMediaProduction

C. EDUCATIONALAIMSOFTHEFIELD

TheAimsoftheFieldareto:

Equipstudentswiththecapabilitytodeviseandexploituser-centredmethodsandtools,andframeworks,modelsandrules,whichwillenablethemtodevelopinnovativeinteractionswithmedia-rich,21stcenturytechnology;

Enhanceastudent’sjobperformanceandenablehim/hertocontributeeffectivelytotheknowledgebaseoftheemployer;

Givestudentsthemeanstoexploreindetailtheanalysis,designandevaluationofuserinteractions;

Developstudents’reflexive,criticalandcross-disciplinarypractice,suitablefordistributed,collaborativeworking

ForMA,theaboveiswithregardtotheauthorshipofinteractivedigitalcontent

ForMSc,theaboveiswithregardtothedevelopmentofmedia-richuserinterfaces,particularlyfortheInternet.

UndertakecontinuingprofessionaldevelopmentandupdatingforestablishedITprofessionals;

Developanenquiring,analyticalandcreativeapproachtobothpersonalandprofessionalactivitiesthatleadstothecriticalandresponsibleuseofinformedandindependentjudgement.

ForMA,undertakeamoreeffectiveroleininteractiondesignanddevelopment,withparticularregardtointeractivedigitalcontent;

ForMSc,undertakeamoreeffectiveroleininteractiondesignanddevelopmentalongwithmedia-rich,browser-basedinteraction;

Gainasolidfoundationinthisspecialistarea,addingtoandintegrating,theknowledgeandskillsgainedfromeachstudent’sindividualeducationalbackgroundandworkexperience;

Haveanindepthunderstandingofabroadrangeoftopicsrelatedtoavarietyofusers,applicationdomains(tasks),contextsofuse,modalitiesofinteraction,andmedia(text,graphics,audio,andvideo);

Exploredisciplinaryboundaries,resolvevalueconflictsandbridgegapsinknowledgewithargumentsfromfirstprincipleandactivityattheforefrontofbestpractice.

Inaddition,thecourseswillenablethestudentsto:

Applyspecialisedknowledgeandskills,andconductreflexive,criticalandcollaborativepracticeincluding;

ForMA,theanalysisandcreationofinnovativeinteractivemedia;

ForMSc,theanalysisanddevelopmentofinnovativemedia-richuserinterfaces.

Furtherknowledgeandpracticemustbeappliedtoissuesrelevanttodailylifeand/orcommerceandindustry.

D. LEARNINGOUTCOMES(OBJECTIVES)OFTHEFIELD

1. KnowledgeandUnderstanding

Alternativeperspectivesonpsychologicaltheory(memory,attentionetc.)andsocialtheory(practice,communicationetc.),theirrelevanceoftothedesignandevaluationofinteractivesystemsandinteractivecontent,andmeansoftheirapplication;

Thescope,andapplicabilityofuserinterfacedesignguidelinesforusabilityandaccessibility(styleguides),forvariousI/Omodalitiesandplatforms(mobile,PC)andmedia(text,graphics,audioandvideo);

Structuredmethodsandtoolsforuser-centredanalysis,design,prototypingandevaluation(includingboth‘early’inspectiontechniques,and‘late’usabilitystudiesinthelaboratoryandinthefield(includingexperimentaldesign);

Importantspecialism’sandemergingresearchareaswithinuser-centreddesign,suchasinformationvisualisation,informationarchitecture,accessibility,on-linecommunities,mobileinteraction,safetycriticalsystems,animation,computergamesanduserexperience;

Thecontextofinteractiondesign(softwareengineering,productdesign,contentmanagement),projectmanagementandbusiness,andtherelationsbetweeninteractiondesignanditscontext.Thisincludesethical,legalandprofessionalissues,andthetechnologieswithwhichusersinteractandthroughwhichtheycommunicate.

ForMA,socio-culturaltheoriesofartandcommunication,andthetoolsandtechniquesforthedesignandauthoring(planning,co-ordination,executionanddistribution)ofuserexperiences.

ForMSc,theanalysis,developmentandauthoringofstructureandfunctionofmedia-richuserexperiences,particularlyfortheInternetandforprototyping

2. Cognitive(thinking)Skills

Elicituser-centredrequirements,andgaininsightintousers,theirworkandthecontextofuse;

Envisionnoveluserinterfacesthatutiliseavarietyofinput/outputmodalities(notonlyGUIsfordesk-topapplicationsandwebsites,butalsospeech-andvoice-basedinteraction,andmulti-modalinteraction,astechnologydevelops);

Analyseandexplainproblematicinteraction(errors,taskbreakdowns)Understandandbeabletodefinethecontextwithinwhichuser-centredframeworks,models,rulesandmethodsareapplicable;

Criticallyanalyseandevaluateresearchinuser-centreddesign.Identifycontemporaryissues.

Followanexplicit,structuredandevidence-basedapproachtodesigndecision-making,thatcarriesforwardinformationbetweenstagesandacrossperspectives;

Synthesiseinformationfromdiversedisciplinesandapplicationdomains;

Interpretprojectbriefsandusethemtoinspireandrationalise;

ForMA,interactivecontentthatenhancetheuserexperience(andcommunicationwithusers)

ForMSc,userinterfaces,thatenhancetheuserexperience(andcommunicationwithusers)

3. PracticalSkills

Applyscientifictheories,frameworks,modelsanddesignguidelinestoallstagesofuser-centreddevelopment.Includesresearchmaterial;

Select,adapt/extendanduseeffectivelyawiderangeofmethods,toolsandtechniquesforuser-centredanalysisandevaluation,notablydatacollectioninthefieldandunderlaboratoryconditions;

Developandrationaliseinnovativeuserinterfacesthatsatisfyarangeofuser-centredcriteria(aestheticallypleasing,easytouse,productive,entertaining);

ForMA,createadvanceddigitalmediaofoneormoretypes(text,graphics,audioandvideo)

ForMSc,developanduseinteractiveprototypesandmock-ups,andfullyfunctionalinterfaceprototypes(particularlyfortheweb)thatincorporatedigitalmedia(text,graphics,audioandvideo).

4. KeySkills

Oncompletionofthefieldstudentswillhaveacquiredthefollowingkeyskills;:

a. CommunicationSkills

Writeeffectivereportsondesign(theproductandtheprocess),withcompletenessandcoherence,andwithpersuasiveargument;

Leadagroupdiscussionandgiveaneffectivegrouppresentations(includingtoaboardlevelaudience),puttingforwardacase,givingconstructiveargumentsandsummarising,complextechnicalmaterial;

Runafacilitatedworkshopinvolvingparticipantsfromarangeofbackgrounddisciplines(systemdevelopers,designers,evaluators,customersandmanagement);

Criticallyassessanddiscussspecialistareasundertakenduringthecourse;

Argueforthecostsandbenefits,andnecessarynature,ofmulti-disciplinarycontributionstointeraction-andmedia-design;

Communicatewithusers,forexample,runninginterviewsandfocusgroupswithparticipantsatalllevelsinorganisations,includingtechnicalandnon-technicalpersonnel;

Discuss,andfurthertheunderstandingof,communicationsandcontent.

b. Numeracy

Chooseanappropriateapproachtointeractivemediadevelopmentandmanagement,givencosttimescaleandqualityconstraints;

Collectdatafromprimaryandsecondarysources,synthesise,extrapolateandevaluatetheinformation;

Manipulate,interpretandanalysenumericaldataandalternativemediaformats;

Selectappropriatestatisticaltestsfordata,andconsidertheimplicationsofanalysisuponexperimentaldesign.

c. Information,CommunicationandTechnology

Criticallyevaluatetechnicalsystemsandspecifications;

Useapplicationsforprototyping,diagramming,softwarespecification,digitalmedia,projectmanagement,groupworkandstatisticalanalysis;

Selectappropriatetoolsfordevelopingmedia-richuserinterfaces,particularlyfortheweb

d. Teamwork

Contributetogroupworkinganddiscussionsandbeabletotaketheleadandevaluatetheprogressandcollectiveperformanceofthatgroup

Reflectupon,andidentifywaysofimproving,grouppracticesandperformance,inparticulartheirowncontributiontothegroup,groupmaintenanceandtheoutcomesforparticularindividuals

Workaspartofamulti-professionalteamwithinabusinessenvironment

Coordinatediverseactivitiesandresolveapparentlyconflictingpriorities;

Negotiatesharedunderstandingandestablishsharedvalues,despitedisciplinaryboundaries,andmultipleframesofreference

Constructcredible,andpersuasivecommunicationsforavarietyofstakeholders

e. IndependentLearning

Workindependentlyandproducereportsdrawingtogetherandinterpretingresearchandinformationfromdifferentsources

Beabletoundertakeresearchbychoosingdifferentandappropriateresearchmethodsandusingtheminaneffectivemanner

presentanddiscusssynthesisedinformation,inordertoassessextentoflearningandobtainfeedbackfromadiverseaudience

Reflectupontheadequacyoftheirownknowledgeandskills

E. FIELDSTRUCTURE

ThisfieldispartoftheUniversity’sPostgraduateCreditFramework(PCF).FieldsinthePCFaremadeupofmodulesthataredesignatedatlevel7.Singletaughtmodulesinthecoursesarevaluedat15creditsandthefieldcontainsaprojectthathas60credits.TheminimumrequirementforaPostgraduateCertificateis60credits,foraPostgraduateDiploma120creditsandaMastersDegree180credits.

ThecourseoffersthePGCertificateandPGDiplomaasexitawardsonlyandisbasedonthestudentpassinganycoherentsubsetofthetaughtmodules.

TheawardsavailablearedetailedinsectionAandtherequirementsareoutlinedbelow.AllstudentswillbeprovidedwithalinktothePCFregulationsinthestudenthandbook.

TheFieldsareofferedas1yearfull-time,and2yearspart-time.Themodulesareofferedeitherserially(e.g.2-3hrsessionsweeklyorfortnightly)orinblockmode(e.g.Mon–Fri9-5),asdeterminedbyeachFaculty.ThefullMAandMSccourseconsistsofaninductioncourse,8modules,andthefinaldissertationproject.

Normally,eachmodulewillbeofaround30hourscontacttime,followedbydirectedlearningresultinginatotalof150hours(approximately).Thefinaldissertationprojectistheequivalentoffourmodules.

Full-timestudentswillcompletetheprogrammeofstudyandassessmentin52weeks.Thenormalstudypatternforpart-timestudentsisthattheyshouldcomplete8modulesoveratwoyearperiod.

MODULECODE

MODULETITLE

CREDITS

CORE:

CIM120

DigitalContentProductionProcesses

15

DXM001

DigitalInterdisciplinaryPractice

15

CIM507

UserFactors

15

CIM506

UsabilityEngineering

15

DMM412

ExperienceDesignI

15

DMM417

ExperienceDesignII

15

OPTIONS:

(ForMAInclude)

DXM002

GamesDesign

15

DXM003

LiveProject

15

DMM413

CreativeResearchMethods

15

CDM408

PracticeResearchProject

30

CIM217

E-CommerceTechnologies

15

DMM410

DigitalAudio

15

HPM400

ResearchMethods

15

OPTIONS:

(ForMScInclude)

CIM217

E-CommerceTechnologies

15

CIM142

ProgramminginJava

15

CIM951

ResearchMethods

15

TSM005

CraftProject

15

DMM410

DigitalAudio

15

DXM003

LiveProject

15

FINALPROJECT

CIM911

FinalProjectandDissertation(MSc-CISM)

60

TSM901

MajorProject(MSc-SCIENCE)

60

DXM005

FinalMajorProject(MA-FADA)

60

DMM400

FinalProjectandDissertation(MA-FASS)

60

*shadedmodulesforapproval

ThemodulescoretotheDigitalMediasuite(DigitalInterdisciplinaryPracticeandDigitalContentProductionProcesses)supportstudents’reflectivecriticalpracticewithinmulti-disciplinarydesignandinteractivemediaprojects.

TheUserFactorsmoduleintroducesthenatureofthediscipline,desirablegeneralqualitiesofinteractionandrelevantbehaviouraltheory(psychology,sociology).UsabilityEngineeringconcernsexperimentaldesign,datagatheringtechniques,andstandardmethodsforusabilitytestingandstatisticalanalysis.ExperienceDesignIandIIconveyasystematic,holisticapproachtothedesignofmulti-modal,multimediauserexperiences,whichisbothexplicitandknowledgebased,aswellasintegrativeandcreative.Thelearningobjectivesnecessaryforprofessional,ethical,contemporaryandrelevantconduct(elaboratedonintheseparate‘ResearchMethods’module),arealsoaddressedbyatleastoneoftheabovecoremodules.

TwooptionmodulesarechosenfromeithertheFacultyofComputing,InformationSystemsandMathematics,FacultyofArtsandSocialSciences,FacultyofArtDesign&ArchitectureandFacultyofSciencePostgraduateProgrammes.

RecommendedoptionmodulesforMA-PracticeResearchProjectCDM408,GamesDesignDXM002andLiveProjectDXM003

RecommendedoptionmodulesforMSc-E-CommerceTechnologiesCIM217,ProgramminginJavaCIM142andCraftProjectTSM005.

Thefinalmajorprojectmoduleisafifteentoeighteenweekfull-timeequivalentanalysis,design,development,productionand/orevaluationactivity,withanacademicreport.

Figure1:MAandMScUserExperienceDesign:FieldStructure

F. FIELDREFERENCEPOINTS

ThefieldhasbeendesignedwithreferencetoKingstonUniversity'sPostgraduateCreditFramework.

ThefieldmeetstherequirementsforanawardatMastersLevelundertheframeworkforhighereducationqualifications.

ThereisnobenchmarkingatMasterslevelbutthisfieldbuildsonfromtheundergraduateart&design,behaviouralscience,mediaandsoftwareengineeringfields.

Research

UserInterfacedesignandevaluationontheAQuRateproject,whichisdevelopingaQTIv2compliantQuestionAuthoringtool.

researchpapersreporting:

reconstructiontheory,appliedtothedesignofthespaceofpossibilityincomplexmedia(2007)

chapterinTheArtofComplexSystemsScience(2008)

acommonmis-applicationoftheuserinterfacestyleguideforWindows3.1.(1997);

acrucialflawinusabilitytestingbestpractice(ACMCHIconference2007).

Consultancy

forOracleUKtodesignandevaluateuserinterfaceforjavadevelopmenttools(2002and2004)

G. TEACHINGANDLEARNINGSTRATEGIES

TheFieldisdesignedtogivestudentsabalanceoftheoreticalandpracticalexperienceinamulti-disciplinary,project-basedandindustry-facingcontext.

Formallecturesareusedinordertogivethestudentsagoodbackgroundunderstandingintheareaandtointroducetheoreticalelements.Thesearethenoftenreinforcedbypracticalsessionsand/orindustryspecialistswhocontributethroughoutthecourseinordertogiveinformativeinsightintoindustrydevelopments.

Thepracticalworkshops,openforums,newswires,externallyhostedcasestudyprojectsandgrouppresentationsareintroducedintothemodulestoprovidestudentswithadetailedunderstandingoftheapproachestakeninindustry.

Thefieldgivesstudentsthespecialisedknowledge,toolsandtechniquesandexploreswiththemmethodsforextractingandsynthesisinginformation.Butinorderforthestudentstogainfromthecoursetheymustdrawonthetaughtmaterialandtheexperiencegainedfromthepracticalsandcasestudiesembeddedwithinmostmodules.

Thestudentisthenrequiredtofurtherexploreandexploittheinformationgiveninthemodulesthroughguidedselfstudywhichwillrequirethemtoresearchanddefinetheoutcomesaccuratelyandproducedetailedsolutionsandinnovativework.Self-guidedworkisdesignedtoenablethestudentstobuilduptheircompetenciesinresearch,writingreportsandthepracticalskillsofthefield,willenablethemtofurtherdevelopthisexpertiseinorderforthemtoproducetheirprojectdissertation.

Itisrecognisedthatteamworkingisaveryimportantaspectinindustryandthisisreflectedduringthemodules.Thecourseensuresthatthestudentsareexposedtoteamworkingthroughgrouppresentations,jointreportwriting,jointresearchandlabwork.

Theneedforeffectivecommunication,bothwrittenandverbal,isalsorecognisedandthecoursepridesitselfonpreparingthestudentsfortheirlongertermcareerplansandCPD.Apartfromtheprojectitself,eachstudenthastogiveverbalpresentationsduringthemodules,normallytothestudent’speergroupandmoduleleader.Studentsarealsohelpedwithverbalcommunicationskillsthroughdiscussiongroups.Mostmodulesareassessedbywrittenassignmentsthataredesignedtoimprovestudents’researchandevaluationskills.

Theindividualprojectprovidesachallengetothecandidatetoundertakearealworldproblem,becausenormallytheprojectsareindustriallyorientated.Wherepossible,projectwillalsobecollaborativei.e.involve‘live’participationinalargerprojectinvolvingthehost,orotherstudents.Studentswillbegivencloseguidancetoselectaprojectthatisrelevanttotheirbackgroundorspecialisation.Duringtheproject,thestudentwillbeexpectedtoapplytheknowledgethathe/shehaslearntduringthecourseinordertoachieveadeliverablewhilstsatisfyinganygivenconstraints.Keyskillsincommunication,collaboration,presentation,literaturesearch,problemanalysis,projectplanning,reportwritingandsolutionjustificationareallpartofthelearningoutcomesdefinedinthiscourse.

TeachingandLearningStrategiesforWorkBasedLearning

Thework-placehasthepotentialtoprovideexcellentopportunitiesforstudentsto:

identifyusabilityissuesandtherequirementsfor,andof,interactivemedia(content);

assesstheuserexperience,usabilityandcommunicativeeffectivenessofexistingdigitalmediaandinteractivesystems;

reviewcurrentapproachestotheuserexperience,usabilityandcommunicationwithinintheirorganization;

presentacaseinsupportofuser-centered,creativecontributionstointeractivemediaandinterfacedesignprojects;

H. ASSESSMENTSTRATEGIES

Acombinationofassessmentmethodswillbeusedthroughoutthecourse.Theseelementsinclude:-

Modulecoursework

Moduleexaminations

In-classtests

Groupwork

Verbalpresentations

Projectdissertation

Eachmoduleleaderisresponsibleforensuringthatthemethodofassessmentreflectstheaimsandlearningobjectivesofthemodule,isdemandingandstimulatingandattheappropriateMaster'slevel.Assessmentinthefieldisstructuredtosupportcreativedevelopmenttothehighestlevel,andtoprovideguidanceandmonitoringasastudentprogresses.Tothisendarangeofformativeandsummativeassessmentstrategiesareemployed.

Theassessmentcriteriaforeachmodulerelatestotheassessmentstrategygivenineachmoduledescriptorandtheparticularteachingandlearningstrategiesemployed.Projectbriefs,tutorialtimetablesandsubmissionrequirementsdescribethescopeofthework.Throughoutthecoursestudentsareprovidedwithverbal/writtenfeedback,formativeprojectmarksandsummativemodulegrades.

I. ENTRYQUALIFICATIONS

1. Theminimumentryqualificationsforthefieldare:

Allapplicantsmustbeabletodemonstrate,eitherthroughqualificationsorportfolioofworksasolidunderstandingofdigitalmediaappropriatetothesubjectarea.

ApplicantsfortheMScarenormallyrequiredtohaveagoodhonoursdegreeininformationtechnology,computerscience,ortheacademicequivalent.

ApplicantsfortheMAarenormallyrequiredtohaveagoodhonoursdegreeinthehumanitiesart&design,multimedia,mediaproductionortheacademicequivalent.

Exceptionalapplicantsmayhavenofirstdegreebut5+yearsworkingintheinformationtechnology,thecreativeindustriesorthehumanities.Inthiscase,theremustbestrongevidencethattheapplicanthasthemotivationtocompletethecourseandtheabilitytoworkatthislevel.Experienceindigitalmedia,userinterfacedevelopmentanduserinteractiondesignisparticularlyvaluable.Experienceinanapplicationdomain(healthcare,businessinformation,retail)isalsorelevant.

Bothofthesetypesofapplicantswillbenefitfromtheadvancedandspecialisednatureofthetechnicalandbusiness