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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences : Global Health

Postgraduate Course: User-Centred Design in eHealth (GLHE11038)

Course Outline
SchoolDeanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences CollegeCollege of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryDivided into 5 sessions, each lasting a week. Most will contain written materials and presentations, accompanied by guided reading in the form of links to journal articles with problem-based learning questions. The final session will be devoted to assignment preparation, facilitated by the course tutors.
Discussion of the content and reading materials will be posted to an online forum, along with students¿ answers to the PBL questions.
Students will be expected to produce a 2000 word essay by the end of the course.

Course description This course explores the principles in user-centred and participatory design. It includes how human factors relate to accessibility, requirements engineering, the social context of technology, the user experience and involvement. Students will also be introduced to different tests of usability.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Students will be responsible for their computer equipment and internet access.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Block 4 (Sem 2)
Course Start Date 26/02/2018
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 5, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 1, Online Activities 35, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 5, Formative Assessment Hours 5, Revision Session Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 46 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Collated forum postings:30%

Essay: 70%
Feedback Formative feedback will be given throughout the course through the discussion boards. Summative assessment feedback is also provided via LEARN at the end of the course.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Identify why it is important to involve users in technology design.
  2. Explain the different terms used to describe principles and processes of user involvement in design,and their theoretical and disciplinary underpinnings.
  3. Explore the main techniques used to assess usability and capture requirements in laboratory and field settings.
  4. Identify the most valuable types of user involvement at different phases of the technology lifecycle.
  5. Evaluate the conceptual and design challenges presented by emerging social / virtual technologies.
Reading List
Rogers Y, Sharp H & Preece J (2011) Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer Interaction (3rd ed.) Wiley & Sons.

Dix (2010) Human¿computer interaction: A stable discipline, a nascent science, and the growth of the
long tail. Interacting with Computers 2 (1)13-27
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0953543809000952

Timely journal articles, science and technology blogs and industry reports will be selected each time the course is run.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Recognises the importance of capturing user perspectives and involving users in the design process
Is able to describe a range of methods for improving the usability of interactive computer-based systems
Is able to apply this knowledge to the analysis of eHealth tools and services.
Special Arrangements Delivered via online distance learning
Study Abroad No study abroad option.
KeywordsGlobal eHealth
Contacts
Course organiserDr Claudia Pagliari
Tel: (0131 6)50 9464
Email: Claudia.Pagliari@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Jane Dumayne
Tel: (0131 6)50 2679
Email: v1jdumay@exseed.ed.ac.uk
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