Challenging students to acquire deeper knowledge in HCI course N. Ackovska and M. Kostoska 15 th Workshop on “Software Engineering and Reverse Engineering” Bohinj, September 2015

Outline Human Computer Interaction Course Course Topics Course Grading System Inquiry-Based Approach Evaluation Methodology Results Conclusion

Human Computer Interaction Course Around 600 students in the past six years Syllabus covers relevant topics recognized by the ACM/IEEE recommendations Main objective: Understand and FEEL the basics of the complex interaction between the computer and the user Acquire knowledge that many users have different application usage skills, knowledge and opportunities

Human Computer Interaction Course Elective course (third or fourth year of studies) Organization: Theoretical lectures with 2 classes per week Lecture exercises with 1 class per week Practical lab tutorials with 2 classes per week The course has weight of 6 ECTS

The Course Grading Scheme Activity Total activity points Min. required points Laboratory exercises (5 individual exercises) 3015 Theory exams (2 midterm exams or 1 final exam) 4020 Project

Outline Human Computer Interaction Course Course Topics Course Grading System Inquiry-Based Approach Evaluation Methodology Results Conclusion

Inquiry-Based Learning From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Inquiry-based learning starts by posing questions, problems or scenarios—rather than simply presenting established facts or portraying a smooth path to knowledge. The process is often assisted by a facilitator. Inquirers will identify and research issues and questions to develop their knowledge or solutions.

Inquiry-Based Approach The students are proposing challenging projects Receive approval or comments regarding the proposed project Team projects are encouraged, but individual work is allowed as well Students discover the challenges and raise questions regarding specific technologies, principles or methodologies they are supposed to use and try to discover solution

Inquiry-Based Approach At all times students are offered facilitation IT technologies Specific target group Meetings – weekly basis (during practical lab tutorials) Every team or individual has different learning curve However, every project should go through certain milestones

Project Milestones

Outline Human Computer Interaction Course Course Topics Course Grading System Inquiry-Based Approach Evaluation Methodology Results Conclusion

Evaluation Methodology Perspective 1: Individual vs Team work average number of students per team Perspective 2: Target group with limitations vs Target group with no limitations whether the students will challenge themselves for people with disabilities or some kind of cognitive, mental or physical limitations

Evaluation Methodology Perspective 3: Use practical knowledge from previous courses only vs Learn new technologies or apply formal knowledge Usage of acquired skills and practical knowledge only from previous courses New technology concepts Apply formal theoretical knowledge from previous courses

Outline Human Computer Interaction Course Course Topics Course Grading System Inquiry-Based Approach Evaluation Methodology Results Conclusion

Results – Perspective 1 YearNum. projectsNum. students The subject is fully elective

Results – Perspective 1 Students mostly choose to work in teams with 2 and 3 members

Perspective 2 – Create for different? How interesting are software / hardware systems that apply real limitations in Input / output devices Content has to be limited / made easier / adapted The view has to be adapted The environment is limited, known in advance …

Target groups are interesting for students! Applications for users with great limitations: people with limited motoric functions blind or people with limited sight, deaf and hard of hearing etc. Also larger groups with specifics: kids elderly people Social groups – music, sports, travel, pets… ….. which require specific and limiting interface design as well

Results – Perspective 2 40 out of 195 projects in total are targeted for people with disabilities or some type of interaction limitation

Results – Perspective 2

Perspective 3 – Learn more? Technology (examples) Learn XNA technology Learn Objective C and iOS SDK Use Google Sketch Up, Use Unity 3D … Theory (examples) Use mathematical knowledge about vectors, matrices and their transformation to create custom animation importer and games Use A* algorithm Use probability and randomness algorithms … Use patterns – mobile, cloud implementation…

Results – Perspective 3

Outline Human Computer Interaction Course Course Topics Course Grading System Inquiry-Based Approach Evaluation Methodology Results Conclusion

The students conducted many researches and were constantly encouraged to ask questions, to find answers and to improve their projects Facilitating the IB learning, the students tend to work in smaller groups

Conclusion Around 30% of the students were interested to extend their knowledge or apply formal knowledge Great aspect of the course - it raises the awareness of the students about the people with disabilities, age- aware design, even with different culture values

Thank you! Questions please