SOFTENG 350 : Human Computer Interaction
Engineering
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Welcome to Human Computer Interaction (HCI). For computer users, the interface 'is' the system. For the 'average' system, over half the code is entirely about managing the user interaction. This makes HCI an important area of study and research within software engineering and computer science. As you will find during the course, HCI encompasses everything from designing a simple web page to developing Virtual Reality environments! We often combine knowledge from psychology, design, and computer science. The course emphasises two complementary competencies of HCI: the ability to evaluate usability of a user interface, and the ability to design a usable interface (e.g., Usability Experience - UX - Design) --- and these will be part of the coursework. We plan to have a couple of guest lecturers to offer broader perspectives.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Perform a usability assessment of a system and communicate the findings effectively (Capability 4.1 and 6.1)
- Perform requirements analysis activities to inform user interface design (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 8.2)
- Create and justify a conceptual design and accompanying low-fidelity design (Capability 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Create and justify a high-fidelity design incorporating use of fonts, colours and border designs (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 8.2)
- Appreciate and apply principles of fundamental human capabilities for usability assessment and design (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
- Understand trends in human-computer interaction including emerging interaction technologies and other current topics (will vary semester to semester; e.g. gamification, data visualisation) (Capability 6.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
- Appreciate the importance of, and have the skills to practice, design for equity of access (notably for blind and vision-impaired users) (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 8.1)
- Work as part of a group on a design activity (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 8.2)
- Work independently to investigate design requirements and solutions (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 8.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Tutorials | 10% | Group Coursework |
| Term test | 30% | Individual Examination |
| Coursework | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Reviews, reflections, research experience | 5% | Individual Coursework |
| Quizzes | 25% | Individual Coursework |
| 5 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Tutorials | ||||||||||
| Term test | ||||||||||
| Coursework | ||||||||||
| Reviews, reflections, research experience | ||||||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
Must complete practical work / compulsory in-person participation at selected tutorials (tentatively weeks 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10).
Must complete in-person quiz (tentatively week 5) and in-person term test (tentatively evening of Friday in week 11).
Must pass practical and theory components.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, each week you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 2-hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials, with submitted work to receive credit for that component of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials/labs will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
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.
A reading list will be provided.
Health & Safety
Relevant safety practices for computer labs will be followed. Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
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.
This year, there are clearer written overviews of all course assessments available in Canvas. We are looking to assign a tutor to monitor the forums to increase responsiveness. The first quiz will have a broader scope that Fitts' Law.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.