Syllabus (as of 08/24/05)

Course No/Name: ATEC 3363.501 Basic Interaction Design

Course Title: Small-Screen Interaction Design
Instructor: Chip Wood, Visiting Associate Professor
Contact: chip.wood@utdallas.edu JO 4.806/972-883-2785 cell 469-544-3085
Class Day and Time: Fall Semester 2005/Mondays 7:00 – 9:45pm
Location: HRA 1.104

Learning Outcomes
Understand the history and trajectory of Interaction Design as a professional discipline
Understand basics of both analogue & digital interaction applications
Demonstrate a basic understanding in the following:

• Interaction research methods

• Analysis and interaction definition, i.e., user requirements
• Concept visualization (Design) & review
• Design refinement & prototyping
• Usability testing
• Organize information & make a compelling visual/experiential presentation

Course Description
This class is a basic course in Interaction Design, which has been designed to give students an
overview of current interaction development process and methods, and discussions regarding
Interaction Design’s importance to the advancement of technology usage, entertainment, and
impact on culture and society.

Course Requirements
• Attendance to all classes is important, especially during teamwork sessions
• All assignments need to be completed on time and in a professional manner & retained in
an active personal reference file or notebook
• All students need to participate individually and as a contributing member of a team
• In addition to the assignments below there will be other helpful handouts and Internet
sites to study for reference

Grading Procedure
Because this course’s emphasis will be on providing the student with an awareness and
understanding of basic Interaction Design methods and practices through experience, it is very
important that students participate individually and as a member of a small team to insure that
everyone has a successful leaning experience. Therefore, students will be evaluated on
attendance, participation in class and team assignments, and the quality and quantity of work
completed from week to week, leading to the final team presentations. Assignments will be
discussed throughout the course, with specific requirements spelled out each week.

Classroom Conduct
• Students are to focus their attention on the subjects at hand in the classroom, i.e., lectures,
presentations, discussions, and teamwork sessions and set aside all other activities.
• All open communication (talking) should be relevant to the subject at hand and have
value to the class as a whole.
 • Competitiveness between students and teams will be friendly and encouraging at all
times.
• All other rules of behavior will be discussed and agreed to by the class on the first day.

Academic Ethics
Any form of disruptive behavior or scholastic dishonesty, such as plagiarism, cheating, or
copying other’s work will not be tolerated and may result in loss of credit.

Drop Procedures (see http://utdallas.edu/student/registrar/calendar/)

If you are unable to complete this course, you should withdraw from it. Withdrawing from a
course is a formal procedure, with a specific published deadline, which you must initiate. The
instructor cannot do it for you. You must do this through the Registrar’s Office.

Course Schedule & Outline

8/24 Class 1 Introductions, syllabus, overview, goals, expectations, supplies, etc.

Lecture/Discussion – Overview & Orientation
Assignment #1: Finish 9 URLs exercise & email to instructor

8/31 Class 2 Lecture/Discussion – What is Interaction Design?

Assignment #2: Read Shedroff paper & email 3 points of interest to instructor

9/07 Class 3 Lecture/Discussion – Information Design & the User Experience

Quick Project – Reduce favorite website GUI to cell-phone display
Assignment #3: Quick research & sketch concepts (see class notes)

9/14 Class 4 Class Sharing/Discussion – Trade sketch concepts with classmates for feedback
Lecture/Demonstration: Basic Graphic Design & GUI Prototyping
Assignment #4: Complete GUI prototypes (see class notes)

9/21 Class 5 Class Sharing/Discussion – Review GUI prototypes; what did you learn?
Lecture/Discussion – Interaction Design Methodology – Part 1
Assignment #5: Read Sanders paper & email comments (3 points) to instructor

9/28 Class 6 Discussion – Applied Ethnographic Research (Sanders paper)

Lecture/Discussion – Interaction Design Methodology – Part 2
Semester Project – Team Assignments plus Review Brief & Schedule
Assignment #6: Research User Needs & Establish Requirements (see proj. brief)

10/05 Class 7 Teamwork Session – Review Research Data & Consensus on Needs List
Assignment #7: GUI Hypothesis & Rough Solution Concepts (see project brief)

10/12 Class 8 Teamwork Session – Review Concepts & Decide on Testing Procedure
Assignment #8: Prototype Concepts & Test for Usability (see project brief)

10/19 Class 9 Teamwork Session – Review Test Results & Select Final Design Direction
Assignment #9: Refine Final GUI Design (see project brief)
10/26 Class 10 Teamwork Session – Continue Refining Final Design Details
Assignment #10: Refine Final GUI Design (see project brief)

11/02 Class 11 Teamwork Session – Continue Refining Final Design Details

Assignment #11: Refine Final GUI Design (see project brief)

11/09 Class 12 Teamwork Session – Complete Final GUI/Plan

Assignment #12: Email plan to instructor & get cracking

11/16 Class 13 Teamwork Session – Prepare for Final Exam Team Presentation
Assignment #13: Show progress & work your plan (see project brief)

11/23 Class 14 Teamwork Session – Finish Preparations for Final Team Presentation
Assignment #14: Hand in individual notebooks for examination by instructor
during class and work plan to complete presentation (see project brief)

11/30 Class 15 Final Exam will consist of two parts (see project brief for details):
• A printed or digital copy (CDR) of Project Report (one copy for each team
member and the instructor)
• A Team Presentation (all team members must participate)

Grading Scale
A 91-100 Excellent
B 81-90 Above Average
C 71-80 Average
D 61-70 Poor
F 00-60 Failing

Grading Weights
60 Points Assignments (15 at 4.0 points each)
10 Points Conceptual Thinking Book (evidence of use throughout the semester)
30 Points Final Report & Presentation
• 10 points for unique idea (utility)
• 5 points for aesthetic ‘look and feel’
• 5 points for research to back up idea
• 5 points for overall quality of presentation
• 5 points for total team participation

05 Points Extra Credit for selection of book about Interaction Design & one page
description of why it would be valuable for the rest of the class to read

Attendance & Tardy Policy – Attendance is mandatory. Lack of attendance will affect your grade
because absences will also degrade the work of the project teams. Coming to class late or leaving
early will also be counted as absences without prior approval from the instructor and your team.
Excessive absences can result in grade penalty or even failure of the course; three unexcused
absences will result in an adjustment in the final grade down by one level (ex. ‘A’ down to a
‘B’).