SWE 205 Software Usability Analysis and Design Welcome to SWE 205 Software Usability Analysis and Design

Learning Objectives Students will learn knowledge of what constitutes a usable human-computer interface Students will learn quantitative engineering principles for designing usable human-computer interfaces Students will learn that usability is key to modern software success Students will learn how to evaluate the usability of human-computer interfaces Students will develop : Critical thinking skills Divergent, creative, problem solving skills Collaboration skills 4-Dec-18 © Offutt

Class Overview Class URL : http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~offutt/classes/205/ Contact info, TA Objective : How to build software for people Readings : Posted in schedule Exams : Midterm and final, closed-book, in class Evaluations : User interfaces—short written reports Participation : 25% of the grade! Class structure : Tuesdays will usually be lecture Thursdays will often be group exercises or discussion 4-Dec-18 © Offutt

Goal : How to design interfaces for users’ needs Class Structure Books : The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Steve Krug Lots of examples in class – not just software Why my PPT clicker is so cool Why my stovetop encourages me to turn on the wrong burner Why my car key is stupid Why my portable mouse is brilliant Written evaluations of user interfaces (critical thinking) NO programming Goal : How to design interfaces for users’ needs 4-Dec-18 © Offutt

View Syllabus Online Participation … Homework … Collaboration … In-class computer use … 4-Dec-18 © Offutt

Class Participation You must be engaged with the class throughout the semester You must contribute to the class—we all want to learn from YOU Ways to participate : Attend class—attendance will be monitored Must make at least 25 class meetings to earn a C Speak up during class discussion periods If you are shy, more posts on the class forum can make up for being quiet in class Bring UI examples to class Post substantial comments to the class forum Must average about one post per week to earn a C 4-Dec-18 © Offutt

Homework Assignments We will have around 10 homework assignments—not quite one per week None will be hard or time-consuming Evaluations : Analyze some user interface, use a form to prepare a short written report 1 or 2 pages About 30 minutes Hopefully these will be fun ! Bring examples of UPs (usability problems) to class Other small exercises 4-Dec-18 © Offutt

Schedule URL : http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~offutt/classes/205/sched.html Please read before class Slides and assignments posted before class If I update something, I will add a “new” image to the schedule web page Handouts and notes are there for your benefit and entertainment 4-Dec-18 © Offutt

Readings Most chapters in the books are short The reading should make you think, but the concepts are not hard Examples are real and simple No math to work through It is very important to keep up with the reading—reading before class will prepare you to : Understand what I’m talking about Join the discussion 4-Dec-18 © Offutt

I expect more than half the class to earn an A Grading Policy 20% : Assignments 25% : Class participation 25% : Midterm 30% : Final – closed book, in-class, comprehensive > 90% : definitely an A or A- > 80% : definitely a B or A > 70% : definitely a C, B or A Only one A+ — the top grade in the class I expect more than half the class to earn an A 4-Dec-18 © Offutt