Course syllabus

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Course-PM

TDA498 / DIT104 Interaction design methodology LP1 HT22 (7.5 hp)

The course is offered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Contact details

Course teacher

Teacher Assistant (TA)

 

Course lecturer

 

Course purpose

The aim of this course is to provide (interaction)designers in spe with a solid knowledge about the design process and its different phases, as well as give an overview of the most common methods used in various phases. In addition, numerous methods will be used, analyzed and compared, in this forming a useful toolkit for upcoming courses. 

 

The course covers the following topics, which together serve in giving knowledge about the entire design process

  • The design process
  • Understanding Users
  • Evaluation and Data Analysis
  • Ideation and selection of ideas
  • Evaluation
  • Co-design
  • Iterative design

 

Course literature

There are five literature sessions, numbered 0-4, each focusing on a specific aspect of the design process. The format of the literature sessions has been explained on the page General information about the literature sessions.

 

Course design

The course and exercises run Mondays 9.15-16.00 and Wednesdays 9.15-16.00, on Lindholmen Campus. There will only be one lecture on Tuesday, September 26th. The lectures and activities will be synchronous which means the students should available to engage with the class during the class hours. Please consult this page frequently as all changes will appear here first. See the Schedule page for details on exact times and rooms. 

The course is given in English. The course features both practical and theoretical parts, as well as work in groups and individual work. Lectures, literature and literature seminars give a theoretical foundation, which are immediately put into practice in the form of exercises.

Focus is upon turning analysis and reflection into practical action. Focus is also on exchange of thoughts, feedback, designs and ideas. Hence, the course requires active participation; participants will spend most of their study time at school, working in pairs or groups. Attending to literature sessions, exercises are compulsory.  

 

Relation between the learning outcomes and the parts of the course

Lectures: KU1, KU2, KU4, JA1, JA2, JA4

Literature + Literature seminars: KU3, KU4, SA2, SA5, JA3,

Exercises: SA1-5, JA2, JA5

Seminars: KU3, SA2, JA3, JA4, JA5

 

Changes made since the last occasion

The main changes are as follows:
- The course has been updated to include on-campus exercises.
- The submission of the Project Report has been split into three distinct hand-ins.

 

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

Knowledge and understanding

 

 

  • KU1: Describe stages of the design process
  • KU 2: Describe methods for working with interaction design
  • KU 3: Describe the similarities and differences of different design methods
  • KU4; Describe considerations for involving users in the design process

 

 Skills and abilities

  • SA1: Design technology with regards to users
  • SA2: Modify design methods to fit the context and needs of users
  • SA3: Identify needs and requirements for users
  • SA4: Develop and describe new design methods
  • SA5: Plan design projects with respect to design goals, stakeholders' requirements, and available resources and expertise
  • SA6: Conduct work in an inter-cultural environment (including both cultural and educational backgrounds)  

 

Judgement and approach

  • JA1: Analyze designs taking into account the needs of users
  • JA2: Make an informed evaluation of the ethical and societal impacts of a design
  • JA3: Criticize designs and design processes with respect to the methods used
  • JA4: Identify ethical and social dilemmas in interaction design research and practice
  • JA5: Reflect on your own design process objectively

Link to the syllabus Chalmers.
Link to the syllabus GU.

 

If the course is a joint course (Chalmers and Göteborgs Universitet) you should link to both syllabus (Chalmers and Göteborgs Universitet).

Examination form

The course is examined through two modules, namely:

  1. Group Project, 3 credits (pass / fail), assessed based on a project report, Exercises, project, seminars.
  2. Home Exam, a written exam 4.5 credits (Fail, 3, 4, 5)

In order to pass the entire course, the student needs to receive Pass on the first module and at least 3 on the second module. If you fail one or more parts, you cannot get a final grade, but you will get a grade and the credits for the parts you did pass. 

A note on the distribution of credits: It may seem odd that the eight weeks of practical work are only worth 3 credits, whereas the home exam in itself is 4.5 credits. This is because much of the time and effort spent on reading and doing exercises goes into the home exam as well, where they come together to express the students’ understanding of process and methods; the points do thus not reflect work time but learning.

 

Course summary:

Date Details Due