DESIGN 243 Design and Assistive Technologies - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Students will investigate design interventions that have successfully employed assistive strategies to improve or extend human movement, sensation or mental capacity for a range of individuals and communities. Students will experiment with a range of technologies, experiences and services to design an assistive or rehabilitative intervention that reduces inequalities amongst individuals.

Course Overview

As a designer, you have a great responsibility - as the consequences of your design decisions could unintentionally exclude large sectors of the population. To mitigate that, you need to become aware of the wide diversity of human capabilities; to be able to think critically about the consequences of your designs; and to gain experience solving problems for a wide range of people using appropriate methods. Further, it is important to understanding how emerging technologies can allow humans to augment their physical and cognitive abilities in ways that have not previously been possible.

To be able to design assistive technologies, you have to first understand the human physiological and psychological systems, what this means for your designs, and how to design in a way that moves towards universal design. In order to be be inventive in creating assistive technologies, we will investigate relevant emerging technologies such as Machine Learning and Mixed Reality, and explore methodologies such as calm technology and participatory design. The assignments and project will encourage you to think critically about human capabilities; and you will get to design, prototype and present an assistive technology.

This course will challenge you to see the world through other people's eyes, and make you more aware of the abilities and limitations of yourself and the people you are designing for.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: DESIGN 100, 101

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Develop familiarity with the historical, cultural, economic and political contexts around New Zealand design and its health sector. (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.4, 5.5, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
Develop familiarity with international historical and recent developments in health sector assistive technologies in relation to the development of new interfaces, materials, processes and user experiences. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4)
Develop an understanding of the application of design tools, methods and processes to a specific industry sector in the development of a new interface, material, process and user experience for health sector assistive technologies. (Capability 1.1, 3.1, 3.3, 5.1 and 5.2)
Develop a traditional and/or digital skill-set in addition to requisite health sector assistive technology skills to convincingly prototype a new interface, material, process and user experience. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4)
Develop familiarity with presenting work and critiquing the work of others in a studio pedagogical context. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 6.2 and 6.3)
Demonstrate ability to pitch or succinctly and compellingly present a project. (Capability 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Research	10%	Individual Coursework
Project	30%	Group & Individual Coursework
Project	40%	Group & Individual Coursework
Presentation	20%	Individual Coursework
4 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4	5	6
Research
Project
Project
Presentation

Assessments in this course are planned to encourage you to think differently about people and the technologies they use every day. You will have to confront your previously held assumptions, and think inventively to be able to come up with innovative solutions to problems that people with disabilities can have; but also potentially to use assistive technologies to give people supra-human capabilities.

The assessments are detailed as below

Development of a project brief that enables a project which responds to developments in health sector assistive technologies, new processes and user experiences. (10%)
Development and iteration of a project which applies design tools to a specific part of the health sector using assistive technologies (30%)
Completion of a prototype that convincingly utilises new materials, process or user experiences. (40%)
Presentation and engagement in a seminar pitch that articulates the problem and solution studied. (20%)

A total grade of 50% or higher is required to pass this course.

Where a student faces unavoidable personal circumstances (e.g. illness or a death in the family) that mean the student is unable to submit a component of coursework, he/she may apply for an extension. 
Applications for extensions require that students complete the Design Programme Extension of Time Application Form https://www.forms.auckland.ac.nz/en/student/creative-arts-and-industries/design-programme-extension-of-time-application-form.html
The request is assessed by the Group Services Administrator and Course coordinator and must be supported by written evidence from a doctor or counsellor. The student must apply no later than five days before the due date of the assignment. In case of extreme difficulty closer to the assignment deadline contact your course coordinator directly. 
No extensions will be granted for problems such as accidentally erased computer files, which should always be prevented by keeping backup copies. When an extension is granted, students are expected to submit evidence of work in progress on the original assignment due date to demonstrate what has been completed up to that date.

Teaching & Learning Methods

The course will be a combination of learning modules, project and assignment work, and workshops and will be delivered over 12 weeks in a design studio. Each week there will be a 3 hour lecture + tutorial + project work combination that will vary depending on the specific module being taught. Classes may include guest lecturers, debates, peer-reviews and feedback sessions.

Students are expected to attend every week as each session has been designed to equip students with the necessary skills to complete all assessment activities to receive a passing grade. A thoughtful and active engagement in group work and feedback sessions will contribute to achieving higher than a passing grade.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 12.5 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, each week you can expect 1 to 2 hours of lectures, 1 hour of tutorial, 4 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5.5 to 6.5 hours of work on assignments and/or project.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including studios to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials may not be available as recordings.
The course may include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

BYOD - All students enrolled in a Bachelor of Design or Design conjoint degree should come to class with their own laptop. This is so students will have the core learning tools available in and outside of class. It also means students can increase their independence and have better control of a professional device to stimulate creativity and simplify their design process. Working with a personal laptop during the Design degree will prepare students for the realities of working as a designer after graduation. The highly recommended,

recommended, and minimum specifications for a laptop are listed here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/creative/current-students/courses/design/courses-design-bring-your-owndevice. html

An A4 sketch pad and drawing materials are essential tools for designers. It is good practice to be able to quickly record ideas through writing and sketching as well as collecting and pasting items found that are relevant or inspiring.

Health & Safety

The practical component of the course may require the use of the lab facilities. It is expected that students will comply with the relevant health and safety regulations and undergo the required induction and training as appropriate.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

One key area of feedback from the 2021 course that was improved in 2022, was to increase the amount of contact with people who have a variety of disabilities, to hear their stories, aspirations and frustrations with the technologies that they have to chose from to help them in their daily tasks. Feedback from 2022 has been that this has been inspirational and will become a regular feature of the course.

Other Information

Assessment in the course is through both individual and group work. In order to get most benefit from the group work, you will need to be in attendance to the weekly sessions, which will require some preparation for the week's question, as much of the learning will be through taking part in active discussion. The project work will encourage students to work in a group, and in that way, become accustomed to taking part in larger projects such as they will encounter in their working careers.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity
Capability 6:	Social and Environmental Responsibilities

DESIGN 243 : Design and Assistive Technologies

Creative Arts and Industries

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)