Teaching

I teach a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses related to research methods, technology design, and human computer interaction.

HCI 445: Inquiry Methods and Use Analysis (Research Methods)

This course introduces students to research methods used to understand end users and their tasks. Specifically, students will learn how to select the most appropriate methods to collect and analyze data about users. Methods taught include (but not limited to) observations, interviews, surveys, contextual inquiry, and focus groups. Students will also learn how to effectively communicate and summarize their findings using personas, scenarios, and information visualization techniques. Methods will be applied during course assignments. Lastly, students will learn the role of user research in the design process. 

The learning objectives are:
  • Conduct common user research methods and articulate their advantages and disadvantages
  • Select appropriate analysis techniques to examine data that emerge from methods
  • Effectively document and communicate user research findings

HCI 515: Design Ethnography

In this course, we discuss topics related to ethnographic methods such as activity theory, value sensitive design, online ethnography, and reflexivity. Using concepts related to such theories, students conduct participatory observations, interviews, and/or diary studies (all methods designed to engage with users "in the wild") with community partners and translate the results from those studies into design. In this service-learning course, students will work closely with their community partners to conduct ethnographic studies and design a tool, system, or process for the organization based on the results from the
formative study. 

The learning objectives are:
  • Discuss different theoretical approaches to ethnography
  • Properly design qualitative studies (including but not limited to creating a schedule, data collection, analysis using software)
  • Translate findings from qualitative studies into design implications
  • Develop and build relationships with community partners

HCI 553: Social Interaction Design

This course introduces students to principles, practices, and patterns of designing user experience for social web and mobile applications. Students will use these UX strategies to analyze online interaction patterns on existing websites that facilitate collaboration, content sharing, online communication, networking and other forms of online interaction. In addition to social design patterns, we will also focus on ethics, privacy, social capital, collective efficacy, and designing for those who are traditionally marginalized in the design process. The final project will require students to apply their knowledge of the theories discussed in class and their previous understanding of the human-centered design process to create a social application. 

The learning objectives are:
  • Identify and explain design patterns and their potential effect on users’ interactions and engagement in online communities
  • Apply design patterns effectively to new and existing social interfaces
  • Evaluate design of social interfaces using a critical design lens

HCI 594: HCI Capstone

In this course, students will build and reflect upon skills, methods, and techniques learned in foundational and advanced HCI courses as evidenced in their course project. The final project includes the design of an actual application or system as well as a ‘live’ user research component, such as contextual inquiry or interviews, as well as other appropriate user-centered design process elements such as conceptual modeling, information architecture analysis and design, prototyping, and various usability evaluation methods. Furthermore, in this course students will engage with HCI reading materials that will help solidify their understanding and application of HCI methods. Course participation includes but is not limited to paper discussions, project exercises, peer reviews, and contributions to general course discussions.

The learning objectives are:
  • to demonstrate mastery of individual HCI skills and techniques by performing activities supporting other students’ projects
  • to demonstrate mastery of coordinated HCI skills by completing a comprehensive user- centered design project
  • to read about and then evaluate new HCI methods by writing critical summaries of HCI research and practice
  • to apply and evaluate new HCI methods by implementing them in the course project
  • to communicate your work in a professional manner through written reports and recorded
    video presentations

ISM 210: Introduction to Human Computer Interaction

This course familiarizes students with the user interface development process, including user and task analysis, interaction design, prototyping and evaluation. Students study human perception, cognition and motor abilities as they relate to the design of interactive systems. In a series of projects, students design and revise prototypes as they apply a user-centered design process. Emphasized topics include user profiles, information architecture and usability testing. Students provide written analysis of their research and process. 


The learning objectives are: 
  • to critique a software application or device using principles of interaction design
  • to apply user-centered research methods for need finding, generating insights, and developing concepts for interactive systems
  • to apply user research to design a digital application (website or mobile app) and create an interactive prototype
  • to apply usability and evaluation methods to improve and refine a design