Printable Version

CPSC 6118
Fall 2008
80951

Course Syllabus
CPSC 6118 Human-Computer Interface Development
(Online)

This courses teaches you, the student, how to design and implement human-computer interfaces. Particular emphasis is placed on available software development tools for such interfaces. 

The course assumes you have a basic understanding of programming concepts prior to the taking this course. The course focuses primarily on interface design, supplemented by practical applications in either Java, C#, or Visual Basic .NET. You may choose to develop the practical applications in any of the three languages, or a language of your choosing.
   

The following are this course's outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate knowledge of the principles of human-computer interface development and human-computer interaction.
  • Strategies and actions used to produce the outcome:
    1. Study of human-computer interface development.
    2. Study of human-computer interaction.
  • ABET criteria covered: A, B, C, G, I, J and K.
  • Program objectives covered: 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8.
  • Assessment methods: discussion questions and course project documentation and implementation.
     
• Students will demonstrate knowledge of the user interface design process.
  • Strategies and actions used to produce the outcome:
    1. Study of the user interface design process.
    2. Implement the user interface design process.
  • ABET criteria covered: A, B, C, G, I, J and K.
  • Program objectives covered: 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8.
  • Assessment methods: discussion questions and course project documentation and implementation.
     
• Students will demonstrate knowledge of user interface usability testing.
  • Strategies and actions used to produce the outcome:
    1. Study of user interface usability testing.
    2. Study of the user interface usability testing process.
  • ABET criteria covered: A, B, C, G, I, J and K.
  • Program objectives covered: 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8.
  • Assessment methods: discussion questions and course project documentation and implementation.
     
• Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively.
  • Strategies and actions used to produce the outcome:
    1. Completion of project proposal, analysis and design and implementation documentation.
  • ABET criteria covered: A, B, C, F, G, I, J and K.
  • Program objectives covered:  6 and 8.
  • Assessment methods: discussion questions and course project documentation and implementation.

• Responses to discussion questions -  25% 
• Comments to other students' responses - 10%
• Project deliverables - 65%

Final grades will be assigned according to the following schedule:

Percentage	Grade
90 – 100	A
80 – 89	B
70 – 79	C
60 – 69	D
<60	F

https://colstate.view.usg.edu/  

At this page, click on the "Login" icon within the CougarView portion of the page to activate the CougarView logon page. Your CougarView username and password are:

Username: lastname_firstname
Password: ddmmyy

where "ddmmyy" is your birthdate: 2 digits for day, month, and year.

If you try the above and CougarView will not let you in, please use the "Need Help with CougarView?" link below the username and password textboxes to request help. If you are still having problems gaining access after a few days in the class, please e-mail me.

Once you've entered CougarView, you will see a list of courses you have access to which contains some combination of the phrases "CPSC 6118" and "Fall 2008."  If you don't see this entry in the list, please e-mail me.

Once you have clicked on the course's name and accessed the particular course itself, you will find a home page with links to other sections and tools. The first thing you should do is read the "Welcome (read first)" information. This information will give you a feel for what's available in the particular CougarView classroom environment and explain in more detail how the course will work. Once you've read this information, please feel free to explore the other areas, particularly the Course Content and Discussions.
 

This course will consist of readings, discussion questions, and a course project with multiple deliverables. On a weekly basis, you will need to:

1. review the week's lesson (approx. one hour per week);
2. complete the weekly readings (approx. two hours per week);
3. submit responses to weekly discussion questions based on the readings (approx. two hours per week);
4. comment on other students' responses to the discussion questions (approx. one hour per week); and

In addition to the weekly requirements, you will need to:

5. decide on and complete a course project (approx. two hours per week).

Expected workload: 8 hours per week
 

As a student in this course, you are responsible to:

• manage your time and maintain the discipline required to meet the course requirements,
• complete all readings,
• actively participate in weekly discussions,
• decide on and develop a course project, and
• read any e-mail sent by the instructor and respond accordingly.

“I didn’t know” is not an acceptable excuse for failing to meet the course requirements. If you fail to meet your responsibilities, you do so at your own risk.
 

As your instructor in this course, I am responsible to:

• post weekly lessons outlining the assignments for the week;
• post weekly discussion questions;
• read all responses to discussion questions and comments to responses;
• actively participate in weekly discussions;
• grade discussion questions, comments, and the course project deliverables and post scores within one week of the end of the week in which they are submitted; and
• read any e-mail sent by students and respond accordingly within 48 hours.

Although I will read every posted discussion question and response, I will not necessarily respond to every post. 

Regularly participating in the class discussions and posting your responses as early as possible is important. If you do not respond to discussion questions or comment on other students' responses for two or more weeks in a row, you may receive a WF. If an emergency prevents you from responding to discussion questions or commenting on other students' responses, please contact me to make alternative arrangements.
 

The following is the tentative schedule for the course. It is subject to change. A current schedule will be maintained in the CougarView calendar.

To maximize your learning, you are expected to participate actively in the weekly discussions. This means posting responses to discussion questions, commenting on other students' responses, commenting on other students' comments, and responding to comments made to your responses and comments. 

To earn credit for discussion question responses, you must post a response to at least one discussion question. The points you earn for this post will be based on the quality of the content; that is, the thoroughness, clarity, conciseness, and relevance to the discussion question. 

To earn credit for discussion question comments, you must comment on at least one other student's response. Keep in mind that replies to comments made to your responses to discussion questions do not count as comments. Similar to responses, the score you earn for comments will be based on the quality of the content; that is, the thoroughness, clarity, conciseness, and relevance to the discussion question and the response you are commenting on, as well as the value they add to the discussion.

Remember, the purpose of the course discussions is to stimulate academic debate. Critical thinking is highly desirable! If you do not agree with someone's post, say so. Just do so with respect (see the Discussion Etiquette section below).

As previously stated, I will read every posted message, but I will not necessarily respond to every response or to every comment. I will, however, interject comments where necessary for clarification.
 

CSU is committed to open, frank, and insightful dialogue in all of its courses. Diversity has many manifestations, including diversity of thought, opinion, and values. Students are encouraged to be respectful of that diversity and to refrain from inappropriate commentary. Should such inappropriate comments occur, I will intervene as I monitor the dialogue in the discussions. I will request that inappropriate content be removed from the discussion and will recommend University disciplinary action if deemed appropriate. Students as well as faculty should be guided by common sense and basic etiquette. The following are good guidelines to follow:

• Never post, transmit, promote, or distribute content that is known to be illegal.
• Never post harassing, threatening, or embarrassing comments.
• If you disagree with someone, respond to the subject, not the person.
• Never post content that is harmful, abusive; racially, ethnically, or religiously offensive; vulgar; sexually explicit; or otherwise potentially offensive.

In addition to the above, a positive attitude is essential to a healthy learning environment. Not only should your posts be respectful and insightful, but they should also be positive in order to benefit the entire class.

You are required to complete an individual course project for this course together with several intermediate deliverables. You are responsible for deciding on the scope of the project. Details of the project requirements will be posted within CougarView.
 

All responses to class discussion questions, comments to other students' responses, and course project deliverables are due during the week in which they are assigned and no later than 11:59 PM (23:59) (Eastern Time). The due dates for specific responses, comments, and course project deliverables will be given in the weekly lessons, as part of the posted thread, and in the course's calendar. Assignments submitted or modified after the assignment due date will assessed a late penalty as described below.

If circumstances prevent the timely posting of assignments, please notify me by e-mail within CougarView. Unless you make prior arrangements with me, any assignment submitted after its assigned due date will be considered late. Late assignments may be submitted up to three days beyond their assigned due date and are subject to a 10% reduction in points for each day they are submitted beyond the assigned due date. Assignments not submitted by the assigned due date or within the three days following the assigned due due will be assessed a grade of zero (0).  

Because of course grade reporting requirements, the final deliverable for the course project must be submitted by the assigned due date -- no exceptions! Any final deliverable not submitted by the assigned due date will be assessed a grade of zero (0).
 

There are no provisions for extra credit in this course.
 

If unusual circumstances preclude you from completing the course and you have satisfactorily completed all the other course requirements up until that point, I will award you a grade of "Incomplete" provided you contact me regarding the unusual circumstances and you agree to certain conditions for removal of the "Incomplete." You must, however, contact me and arrange for the Incomplete  as soon as you are aware that you will be unable to complete the course and before the last day of class.
 

In this course, you may use Java, C#, or VB.NET or another language of your choice for the course project. If you intend to use Java as your application language, you will need the Java Software Development Kit (J2SDK) which is available from:

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp

The J2SE will run on just about any platform including Windows and Linux. If you work on your programs in the CSU labs, the J2SE is installed.

You will also need an editor to compose your Java source code. Although you can use Notepad or any Java editor, TextPad, JBuilder, Eclipse, or JavaBeans are the recommended editors.  The CSU labs are equipped with these particular editors.

If you are going to use C# or VB.NET for your course project, you will need the following software for this course:

• Operating system: Windows 2000 or XP Professional or Windows Vista
• Development environment: Visual Studio .NET 2005/2008

Note: If you are using Windows XP and you plan to use C# or VB.NET for your course project, you must use the Professional version of Windows XP. If you have the Windows XP Home edition, you must upgrade to the Professional edition. You can do so for free by downloading Windows XP Professional from the MSDNAA site at:

http://msdn08.e-academy.com/colstate_cs

To complete the design requirements of this course, you will need:

• Modeling tool: Microsoft Visio 2000 or above or equivalent software

Microsoft Visio is also available from the MSDNAA site if you do not already have it.
 

http://msdn08.e-academy.com/colstate_cs

If you live or work in the local Columbus area, you can drop by the Department of Computer Science on the fourth floor in the Center for Commerce and Technology building and check out a copy of the CDs for any software listed on the MSDNAA site. If you do not live or work in the local Columbus area, you may either download the software or request that the CDs be mailed to you.

Downloading the software. Shortly after the semester begins, you should receive an email message sent to your CSU email address that includes your MSDNAA account information. If you do not receive this message, simply access the MSDNAA site (http://msdn08.e-academy.com/colstate_cs ), click on the ">> Forgot Password?" link under the "Log Me In!" button on the home page of the site, then type in your CSU email address and click on the "Go Find It!" button. If the system still does not recognize you, please send a message to cs@colstate.edu. Be sure to include your CSU email address in the message. 

Once the software has been downloaded, it must be installed in accordance with the Developer Academic Alliance Usage Guidelines (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/academic/bb250609.aspx). 

Requesting the CDs be mailed to you. As an alternative to downloading the software, you may request the software CDs be mailed to you. Simply send an e-mail message to our department secretary Dianne Phillips (cs@colstate.edu). Include in the message the software you are requesting, your name, address, and the name and number of this course. Once you have received the CDs, you must install the software in accordance with the Developer Academic Alliance Usage Guidelines (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/academic/bb250609.aspx). Once you have installed the software, you must place the CDs back in the box they came in (or a suitable container) and return them to the Department of Computer Science. There should be a return label in the box the CDs were sent to you in, but you will have to pay for the return postage. 
 

You must have the ability to administer your own computer system(s), and to install and configure your own software. Ordinarily, I can only provide limited support. 
 

No cheating in any form will be tolerated. Penalties for academic dishonesty may include a zero grade on the assignment or exam/quiz, a failing grade for the course, suspension from the Computer Science program, and dismissal from the program. All instances of cheating will be documented in writing with a copy placed in the Department’s files. Students will be expected to discuss the academic misconduct with the faculty member and the chairperson. For more details see the Student Handbook: http://studentlife.colstate.edu/handbook.asp.

In programming courses such as this, you must be particularly diligent in submitting only your own work. In completing the assignments for this course, if you use another source or sources, you must clearly document what source(s) you used and the extent of that use. This includes messages posted in the discussions as well. Unquoted/paraphrased material as well as directly quoted material must be referenced. Quoted textual material must appear in quotes.

Submitted work that is comprised significantly of external sources, even if those sources are properly documented, may receive a reduction in score. In addition, not following proper external source documenting requirements will be considered plagiarism and will result in the sanctions described above.
 

CSU does not guarantee the confidentiality of information shared by students in the course environment. Therefore, you should not share any confidential information from employers unless explicitly released for public use.
 

If you have a documented disability as described by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 933-112 Section 504) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and would like to request academic and/or physical accommodations please contact Joy Norman at the Office of Disability Services in the Center for Academic Support and Student Retention, Tucker Hall (706) 568-2330, as soon as possible. Course requirements will not be waived but reasonable accommodations may be provided as appropriate.