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CSC 578A: Topics in Software Applications: "Advanced Methods for Human Computer Interaction"
Term Summer 2011
Course Website https://connex.csc.uvic.ca
Instructor Melanie Tory
Email: mtory at cs.uvic.ca
Office: ECS 568
Phone Number: (250) 472-5798
Office Hours: TBD
Lecture Schedule 
(A01)   T   14:30 - 15:30     ECS 130
Laboratory Schedule 
(B01)   R   15:30 - 18:30     ELW B203
Labs begin the week of May 2, 2011

NOTE: labs would normally start the following week, but we will meet for lab in the first week instead of the second week.
Course Overview Laboratory course building on the interaction design process. Theory and application of advanced methods for design and evaluation, including interface prototyping and design techniques; experiments and observational studies both in the laboratory and in the field; methods for statistical and qualitative analysis. Advanced topics: underlying models of human computer interaction; new trends in interaction design; and research frontiers. Students undertake a major project. This course is the same as SENG 411, except that the project is more open-ended and there is an additional class presentation.
Topics Topics will include:
  • Field studies
  • Experimental design and statistics
  • Using Video in HCI
  • Participatory design
  • Prototyping techniques
  • Other topics as time permits
Course Objectives And Learning Outcomes Students who learn successfully in this class will be able to…
  • Design and evaluate interfaces through an iterative process.
  • Explain the philosophy underlying a variety of research methods.
  • Choose appropriate data collection and analysis methods for evaluating interface designs.
  • Plan and run an observational study and perform data analysis.
  • Plan and run a controlled experiment and perform data analysis.
  • Assess the effectiveness of a user study design.
  • Explain how a study design may differ if it is conducted in a lab as compared to in the field.
  • Prototype interfaces using video and Wizard-of-Oz methods.
  • Demonstrate skilled performance at data collection activities involving users, including participatory design, interviews, focus groups, and observations.
Textbooks None. Selected readings will be posted in connex or handed out in class.
Assignments In this course there will be weekly lab assignments. These are worth a total of 20% of your grade and will be weighted equally (except for those that are not for marks). Lab assignments will be due either at the end of the lab or during the following week.
There is also an in-class presentation worth 20% of your grade. You will be expected to do background reading on some topic in HCI and present a summary to the class. This will be scheduled on an individual basis and is separate from the project presentation.
Project(s) In this course there will a project worth 60%. Tentatively, the project will consist of the following parts:
  • Proposal and ethics application (35%)
  • Final report (60%)
  • Final presentation (5%)
Exams There are no exams in this course. Students registered in CSC 578A will not participate in the lab exams required in SENG 411.
Term Schedule This schedule is subject to change.
Assignment/Quiz/Other Weight Assigned Date Due Date
Lab assignments 20% weekly weekly
Project proposal 35% of project Week 1 June 16
Project report 60% of project Week 1 Early August
Project presentation 5% of project Week 1 July 26
Class presentation 20% Week 1 To be scheduled individually
Grading
Coursework Weight (out of 100%)
Lab Assignments 20%
Project 60%
Presentation 20%

Grades Description
A+ Exceptional work. Technically flawless and original work demonstrating insight, understanding and independent application or extension of course expectations; often publishable.
A Outstanding work. Demonstrates a very high level of integration of material demonstrating insight, understanding and independent application or extension of course expectations.
A- Excellent work. Represents a high level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity, as well as a mastery level of relevant techniques/concepts..
B+ Very good work. Represents a satisfactory level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity; demonstrates a sound level of analysis with no major weakness.
B Acceptable work that fulfills the expectations of the course. Represents a satisfactory level of integration of key concepts/procedures. However, comprehensiveness or technical skills may be lacking.
B-, C+, C, D Unacceptable work revealing some deficiencies in knowledge, understanding or techniques. Represents an unacceptable level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity. Mastery of some relevant techniques or concepts lacking.
F Failing grade. Unsatisfactory performance. Wrote final examination and competed course requirements.


Final Grades are obtained by converting the numerical scores using the table below. Dividing lines between letter grades may be adjusted by a maximum of 3% to account for natural breaks in the numeric scores.

F D C C+ B- B B+ A- A A+
0-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-80 81-86 87-93 94-100
Posting Of Grades Term marks, provisional final grades and final grades will be posted by student number. NO NAME WILL APPEAR. These postings are for your information and for your validation of the data entry. If you do not wish your term marks and grades to be publicly posted in this manner, please notify the course instructor by e-mail no later than May 6, 2011.
Csc Student Groups The Computer Science Course Union (http://cscu.csc.uvic.ca/mediawiki/index.php/) serves all students who are either in a computer science program or taking a class in computer science. Please sign yourself up on their mailing list if you would like to be informed about their social events and services.

Women in Engineering and Computer Science (http://wecs.uvic.ca/) - The purpose of the WECS is to encourage more women and girls to consider Computer Science or Engineering as a career and to support them in their decision once they arrive at UVic.

The Engineering Students' Society (ESS) serves all students registered in an Engineering degree program, including Software Engineering (BSEng). For information on ESS activities, events and services navigate to http://www.engr.uvic.ca/~ess .
Course Policies And Guidelines Late Assignments: Late assignments will be penilized 15% per day, unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor before the due date.
Coursework Mark Appeals: All marks must be appealed within 7 days of the mark being posted.
Attendance: We expect students attend all lectures and labs. It is entirely the students' responsibility to recover any information or announcements presented in lectures from which they were absent.
Electronic devices in labs and lectures: No unauthorized audio or video recording of lectures is permitted.
Plagiarism: Submitted work may be checked using plagiarism detection software. Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic fraud are taken very seriously by both the University and the Department. You should consult http://web.uvic.ca/calendar/FACS/UnIn/UARe/PoAcI.html for the UVic policy on academic integrity. Note that the university policy includes the statement that "A largely or fully plagiarized assignment should result in a grade of F for the course".

The Faculty of Engineering Standards for Professional Behaviour are at http://www.uvic.ca/shared/shared%5fengineering/docs/professional-behaviour.pdf

The department guidelines concerning fraud are at http://www.csc.uvic.ca/courseinfo/policies/fraud.html

Department Policies: A list of department policies regarding all courses may be found at http://www.csc.uvic.ca/courseinfo/policies/index.html

This course aims to provide equal opportunities and access for all students to enjoy the benefits and privileges of the class and its curriculum and to meet the syllabus requirements. Reasonable and appropriate accommodation will be made available to students with documented disabilities (physical, mental, learning) in order to give them the opportunity to successfully meet the essential requirements of the course. The accommodation will not alter academic standards or learning outcomes, although the student may be allowed to demonstrate knowledge and skills in a different way. It is not necessary for you to reveal your disability and/or confidential medical information to the course instructor. If you believe that you may require accommodation, the course instructor can provide you with information about confidential resources on campus that can assist you in arranging for appropriate accommodation. Alternatively, you may want to contact the Resource Centre for Students with a Disability located in the Campus Services Building.

The University of Victoria is committed to promoting, providing, and protecting a positive, and supportive and safe learning and working environment for all its members.