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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Informatics : Informatics

Undergraduate Course: The Human Factor: Working with Users (UG) (INFR11276)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Informatics CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course follows the delivery and assessment of The Human Factor: Working with Users (INFR11141) exactly. Undergraduate students must register for this course, while MSc students must register for INFR11141 instead.
Course description This course follows the delivery and assessment of The Human Factor: Working with Users (INFR11141) exactly. Undergraduate students must register for this course, while MSc students must register for INFR11141 instead.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course follows the delivery and assessment of The Human Factor: Working with Users (INFR11141) exactly. Undergraduate students must register for this course, while MSc students must register for INFR11141 instead.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesThis course follows the delivery and assessment of The Human Factor: Working with Users (INFR11141) exactly. Undergraduate students must register for this course, while MSc students must register for INFR11141 instead.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 78 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) -50% Usability and User Experience Evaluation Report: Each student will evaluate the usability and user experience of an existing technology, discuss issues found and generate suggestions for improvement in a report.
-40% Group Presentation: In groups, students will create a series of technology designs to address the issues found in their evaluations and prototype the re-design suggestions proposed.
-10% Individual Reflection: Each student will reflect on the entire process in an individual reflection.
Feedback Formative feedback will be provided during class discussions, through peer assessment, or through appropriate online tasks via TopHat (if the class size requires it).
Summative feedback on assessments will be provided in line with current Informatics guidelines.
Feedback from students will be sought at every lecture - the first part of each lecture consists of activities and further explanations based on student feedback on difficult or tricky concepts.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand how relevant aspects of context affect the interaction between people and technical systems, with a particular emphasis on anthropometric, behavioural, cognitive, and social factors (ABCS)
  2. Assess the usability of a technological artefact, including both hardware and software, given a particular context of use
  3. Integrate user experience and human factors into the process of designing or improving a technological artefact
  4. Ensure that systems are resilient and learn from user errors
Reading List
Ritter, Frank E.; Baxter, Gordon D; Churchill, Elizabeth F. (2014): Foundations for Designing User Centred Systems. Springer (main textbook)
Tullis, Tom; Albert, Bill (2013): Measuring the User Experience. 2nd edition. Morgan Kaufman.
Cooper, Alan; Reimann, Robert; Cronin, David; Noessel Christopher (2014): About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design 4th edition, Wiley
Preece / Sharp / Rogers: Interaction Design. 4th Edition. Wiley.
Additional Information
Course URL https://opencourse.inf.ed.ac.uk/thf
Graduate Attributes and Skills * A critical understanding of the principal theories, concepts and principles relating to Human Factors and User Experience, with some background specialist theories
* Apply knowledge, skills and understanding in using a few skills, techniques, practices and/or materials that are specialised, advanced and/or at the forefront of a subject/discipline/sector; in executing a small defined project of research, development or investigation and in identifying and implementing relevant outcomes.
* Develop original and creative responses to problems and issues.
* Critically review, consolidate and extend knowledge, skills, practices and thinking in a subject/discipline/sector.
* Deal with complex issues and make informed judgements in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information.
* Use a wide range of routine skills and a range of advanced and specialised skills as appropriate to a subject/discipline/sector, for example:
* Communicate, using appropriate methods, to a range of audiences with different levels of knowledge/expertise.
* Communicate with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists.
* Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in professional and equivalent activities.
* Take responsibility for own work and/or significant responsibility for the work of others.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Tara Capel
Tel:
Email: tcapel@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Lindsay Seal
Tel: (0131 6)50 5194
Email: lindsay.seal@ed.ac.uk
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