Units
User Experience
Unit code: INN540
Contact hours: 3 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
Understanding users and their experiences is a vital dimension of IT professionals' competence and ethical awareness. People experience information and technology in a wide range of contexts, increasingly digital enviroments on a daily basis. Understanding people's experience provides an important foundation for design and evaluation of a wide range of technologies and user contexts. This subject provides an opportunity for you to explore your own experience as user and also the experience of others. You will explore the experience of others, through engaging with them directly or via technology, and by engaging with a wide range of resources that inform us about users' experiences. The aim of this unit is to introduce students to understanding and investigating users' experiences in contexts that interest them, with particular emphasis on digital environments.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Understanding users and their experiences is a vital dimension of IT professionals' competence and ethical awareness. People experience information and technology in a wide range of contexts, increasingly digital enviroments on a daily basis. Understanding people's experience provides an important foundation for design and evaluation of a wide range of technologies and user contexts. This subject provides an opportunity for you to explore your own experience as user and also the experience of others. You will explore the experience of others, through engaging with them directly or via technology, and by engaging with a wide range of resources that inform us about users' experiences.
Aims
The aim of INN540 is to introduce students to understanding and investigating users' experiences in contexts that interest them, with particular emphasis on digital environments.
Objectives
On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of research into user experiences.
2. Apply critical and creative thinking to the analysis of user experiences.
3. Undertake your own exploration of the experience of users.
4. Critique user experience studies.
5. Reflect on your learning about users' experiences.
Individual pieces of assessment have their own specific learning objectives, so make sure you are familiar with these as you work to achieve your own learning goals.
Key: Graduate Capabilities
GC1 - Knowledge and Skills
GC2 - Critical and Creative Skills
GC3 - Communication
GC4 - Lifelong Learning
GC5 - Independence and Collaboration
Content
This unit introduces user experiences, the analysis and critiquing of research and personal engagement in aspects of the research process.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit will involve working individually and in small groups to engage in different aspects of the research process including the analysis and critiquing of research, critical thinking, data gathering and analysis. Students will do this through a combination of class contact, class discussions, assignments, and through presentation of their work.
The unit content includes:
The unit is offered in a blended, or multi-modal, delivery mode. The unit can be undertaken internally, externally or a combination of both. The unit has been designed to provide a quality learning experience regardless of the learning mode. The pedagogy in this unit is based on the concept of a community of learners. Emphasis is placed on group discussion so you can explore and share key ideas. Reflective practice is encouraged as a professional attribute. Dialogue between staff and students is encouraged through ongoing discussion and consultation. This is achieved face to face and through appropriate technologies.
The Blackboard site is the primary tool used for information exchange and communication. Unit material and readings provide concepts and stimulate your thinking concerning principles, the philosophy and the theoretical insight into the information programs and products.
You are expected to participate in the learning experience by attending, interacting and reflecting in all classes, and by undertaking a wide variety of reading.
Assessment
Students must complete at least one assessment item as a pair or small group.
If you are a research masters or doctoral student you may choose to do Project 2 as an individual. Please consult with one of the unit teachers.You can obtain feedback on your progress throughout the unit through the following mechanisms:
Assessment name:
Project (I)
Description:
Within this first Project you will reflect on your own experiences as users, develop and implement a strategy for learning about the experiences of a particular group of users. This project includes individual journalling.
Relates to objectives:
2, 3 and 5
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group with Individual Component
Due date:
Week 6
Assessment name:
Project (II) [or Workbook]
Description:
Students will further develop Project I to identify key foci or themes in users' experiences of their area of interest, model their users' experiences, conduct literature searching into users experiences and reflect on their learning in this subject.
Relates to objectives:
1-5
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Week 13
Assessment name:
Workbook [or Project II]
Description:
Students will submit a logbook/learning portfolio containing article critiques, weekly journalling, and reflections on users' experiences and the value of understanding users to their professional careers.
Relates to objectives:
1-5
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 13
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
No extraordinary charges or costs are associated with the requirements for this unit. There are no prescribed textbooks for this unit. Unit materials will be available for download from Blackboard. Students will also be expected to source their own materials through independent research.
Risk assessment statement
There are no unusual health and safety risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 15-May-2012
