Course syllabus

Jump to today

TDA487 / DIT486 Human-centred design and human factors lp4 VT22 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Computer Science and Engineering

Contact details

  • Examiner: Paweł W. Woźniak (pawelw@chalmers.se)
  • Teacher: Jessica Dagman, RISE
  • Teacher: Yuchong Zhang (yuchong@chalmers.se)

Please contact us using Canvas inbox.

Student Representatives:

  • Kalle Areschoug

  • Geoffrey Chen

  • Jesper Setterström

  • Thomas Jinton

  • Sunny Renukuntla

Course purpose

This course shows how to use advanced methods and theories in a human-centred design process. The focus is on acquiring a strong methods toolkit and applying it to a re-design task.

Schedule

The course uses a standard Tuesday-Thursday-Friday schedule with exceptions for holidays, CHARM etc. We do allocate significant time to project work. Most activity slots will have room for extra supervision towards the end of the session.

Our room bookings are posted in TimeEdit. You can use the rooms even if there's an hybrid/online activity planned.

Below is a preliminary schedule.

NOTE: ROOMS WERE UPDATED ON 22/3

Day of the week Date Start End Location Activity Hybrid?
Tuesday 22/03/2022 13:15 17:00 Jupiter122 Course intro Y
Thursday 24/03/2022 14:15 17:00 Alfa Stats I Y
Friday 25/03/2022 13:15 15:00 Beta Stats II Y
Tuesday 29/03/2022 13:15 17:00 High/low Project intro, design synthesis, reframing
Thursday 31/03/2022 13:15 17:00 High/low Planning a study
Friday 01/04/2022 13:15 15:00 Alfa Stats III Y
Thursday 07/04/2022 13:15 17:00 Beta Running stats
Thursday 21/04/2022 13:15 17:00 High/low Project supervision
Friday 22/04/2022 13:15 15:00 High/low Project supervision
Tuesday 26/04/2022 13:15 17:00 Beta Qualitative methods - intro Online lecture
Thursday 28/04/2022 13:15 17:00 Beta Qualitative analysis Y
Friday 29/04/2022 13:15 15:00 High/low Planning a second study
Tuesday 03/05/2022 13:15 17:00 High/low Project supervision
Thursday 05/05/2022 13:15 17:00 High/low Project supervision
Friday 06/05/2022 13:15 15:00 High/low Planning a final study
Tuesday 10/05/2022 13:15 17:00 High/low QDA workshop
Thursday 12/05/2022 13:15 17:00 Alfa Ethics Y
Friday 13/05/2022 13:15 15:00 High/low Adversary Method
Tuesday 17/05/2022 13:15 17:00 Omega (!) FAIR science Y
Thursday 19/05/2022 13:15 17:00 High/low Project Supervision
Friday 20/05/2022 13:15 15:00 High/low Project Supervision
Tuesday 24/05/2022 09:00 09:00 (+1d) High/low Home Exam Y

05/04/2022 - no class due to CHARM. There will be project supervision by appointment (send Canvas message to Paweł).

24/05/2022 - home exam session. In case of technical issues, help will be available at 13:15 in high/low.

For deadlines, check course summary below or the Modules section.

Course literature

Here are key resources which provide a narrative for the lecture slides and offer a more extensive reference.

Blandford, A., Furniss, D., & Makri, S. (2016). Qualitative HCI research: Going behind the scenes. Synthesis lectures on human-centered informatics, 9(1), 1-115.
Library link
MacKenzie, I. S. (2012). Human-computer interaction: An empirical research perspective.
Library link
Hornbæk, K. (2013). Some whys and hows of experiments in human–computer interaction. Foundations and Trends in Human-Computer Interaction, 5(4), 299-373.
Open Access

Course design

More theoretical sessions will be broadcast on zoom (as marked in the schedule). These are focused on new theory and understaning general principles behind the methods.

The non-hybrid sessions are more hands-on and focused on applying theory to project work. These require on-site participation.

The project is conducted in groups of five students (barring balancing issues).

Please conduct all communication about the course via Canvas Inbox - Paweł's email is hell and you won't get a timely answer.

Changes made since the last occasion

The concepts of HCD were operationalised into conrete methods. More focus on project work and a more focused project theme. Less content from HFE and more IxD-relevant skills.

Learning objectives

Knowledge and Understanding:

  • Describe diversed theories and practices of human-centered design and human factors.
  • Explain the broad psychological, sociological and ecological aspects of human-technology interaction. 

Skills and Abilities:

  • Apply theories into concrete project practices.
  • Plan and organize a project that is applying human-centered design and/or human factors methods, models and principles.
  • Formulate research questions in various industrial context and address the issues or needs with theoretical and practical design knowledge.

Judgement Ability and Approach:

  • Explain the advantages and the limitations of different theories and methods in the area of human-centered design and human factors.
  • Assess and motivate when human-centered design and human factors methods are applicable.
  • Analyse issues within human-centered design and human factors from a holistic perspective.

Study plan Study plan

Assessment matrix

Assignments Project Home Exam
Describe diversed theories and practices of human-centered design and human factors. x
Explain the broad psychological, sociological and ecological aspects of human-technology interaction. x x
Apply theories into concrete project practices. x x
Plan and organize a project that is applying human-centered design and/or human factors methods, models and principles. x x
Formulate research questions in various industrial context and address the issues or needs with theoretical and practical design knowledge. x x
Explain the advantages and the limitations of different theories and methods in the area of human-centered design and human factors. x x
Assess and motivate when human-centered design and human factors methods are applicable. x x
Analyse issues within human-centered design and human factors from a holistic perspective. x x

Examination form

There are individual pages for all the things to be done under 'modules'. See intro lecture for detailed info.

Assignments, 1.5 points (pass/fail) - study design documents

Project, 3 points (U/3/4/5) - assessed based on the project report and peer assessment

Home exam, 3 points (U/3/4/5) - quiz questions (day of exam) + individual reflection (developed during the course)

Course summary:

Date Details Due