Interaction Design 1: Usability and Sketching

2024/2025

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Disclaimer.
This is an English translation of the module. In case of discrepancy between the translation and the Danish version, the Danish version of the module is valid.

PURPOSE
The module aims to provide the student with knowledge about the concept of usability and usability evaluations, and the roles and tasks involved in an evaluation. In addition, the purpose is to give the student the competence to be able to use sketching to communicate an interaction design. The aim of the module is to provide the student with knowledge that supports analysis and assessment of the user-friendliness and usability of IT systems, as well as skills to communicate interaction design visually.

The course also involves the introduction to, and use of, the usability laboratory at the Department of Computer Science.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

  • must acquire basic knowledge of the concept of usability and its definitions
  • must gain knowledge of the key activities in a usability evaluation
  • must gain knowledge of roles and tasks in a usability evaluation and knowledge of identifying usability problems
  • must acquire knowledge of sketching and techniques for sketching

Skills

  • be able to accurately explain the concept of usability and explain the activities in a usability evaluation
  • must have practiced the ability to plan and perform a usability evaluation of a specific IT system in a usability laboratory
  • be able to identify and describe usability problems from a specific evaluation
  • be able to sketch using basic shapes, as well as apply perspective and show action in a drawing
  • be able to apply basic principles and techniques for the production of sketches, for example, annotation, composition and contrasts

Competences

  • be able to carry out a complete usability evaluation of an IT system
  • be able to use sketching to illustrate an interaction design

Type of instruction

The teaching is organized in accordance with the general teaching methods for the education, cf. section 17.

Extent and expected workload

The student is expected to spend 27.5 hours per ECTS, which for this activity means 137.5 hours.

Exam

Exams

Name of examInteraction Design 1: Usability and Sketching
Type of exam
Written or oral exam
ECTS5
Assessment7-point grading scale
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Additional information

Contact: Study Board for Computer Science via cs-sn@cs.aau.dk or 9940 8854

Facts about the module

Danish titleInteraktionsdesign 1: Usability og skitsering
Module codeDSNIXDB103
Module typeCourse
Duration1 semester
SemesterAutumn
ECTS5
Language of instructionEnglish
Empty-place SchemeYes
Location of the lectureCampus Aalborg
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Education ownerBachelor of Science (BSc) in Interaction Design
Study BoardStudy Board of Computer Science
DepartmentDepartment of Computer Science
FacultyThe Technical Faculty of IT and Design