ucdw-modorg-1314.doc
IMD08113 User Centred Design for the Web
Module Organiser
Version Control: This version of the course material has a release date of 2nd September 2013
1 Learning outcomes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Demonstrate an appreciation of the nature and character of user requirements.
Demonstrate an understanding of the range of methods available to elicit and model
requirements.
Undertake user-centred usability evaluation in a theoretically informed manner.
Plan, design and evaluate a website.
Demonstrate competence in the use of authoring tools.
2 Achievement of learning outcomes
Learning Outcome
Underpinned by
Assessed in
1. Demonstrate an appreciation of
the nature and character of
user requirements.
Lectures 3 & 6
Coursework 1
Coursework 2
2. Demonstrate an understanding
of the range of methods
available to elicit and model
requirements.
Tutorials, Lectures
1-3
Coursework 1
3. Undertake user-centred
usability evaluation in a
theoretically informed manner.
Tutorials
Coursework 1
Coursework 2
4. Plan, design and evaluate a
website.
Lectures 1-3
Coursework 1
Coursework 2
5. Demonstrate competence in
the use of authoring tools.
Practicals
Coursework 2
3 Syllabus
This module will provide you with an introduction to the theory and practice related to the
user centred design and evaluation of interactive systems and devices and their
application in professional practice with a particular focus on Web design. You will learn
about observational and direct methods to elicit user requirements, to create models of
existing practice, and to evaluate usability, all with a focus on user involvement.
Usability methods will cover the practical methods involved in gathering user-requirements
with respect to a wide range of interactive applications for the web and designing to meet
those requirements. The methods will include techniques such as interviews, observation,
modelling of existing practice, participatory design techniques and user and expert based
techniques for evaluating system usability.
One of the most useful functions of this module will be to provide you with a box of tools
that you can use in many situations. Whenever a design problem arises, you will ask
yourself, "Which of the UCDW tools can I best use to solve this?"
4 Assessment Details
This module is assessed by coursework only.
There are two pieces of coursework, one building on the other. They mainly involve the
design steps involved in building and evaluating a professional web site.
Precise hand-out and hand-in details are to be found in the coursework itself, but the
deadlines are usually around weeks 9 and 13.
5 Teaching Pattern
Weekly class contact consists of a two hour lecture, a one hour tutorial and a one hour
laboratory practical.
You should expect to spend twelve additional hours a week (about 1½ working days) in
independent and directed study.
6 Reading List
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Benyon, D., (2010) Designing Interactive Systems, Addison Wesley, Harlow, Essex
The ACM magazine Interactions (http://interactions.acm.org/)
Chapman,N and Chapman, J (2006) Web Design a Complete Introduction, Wiley,
Chichester
England,E and Finney A (2007), Managing Interactive Media Project Management
for Web and Digital Media, 4th Edition, Addison Wesley, Harlow, Essex
Lazar, J (2006), Web Usability, A User Centered Design Approach, Addison
Wesley, Harlow Essex
Baker, D. and Leinecker, R. (2009) Microsoft Expression Web 2, McGraw-Hill, New
York
7 Web-sites of interest
An older but on-line version of the Benyon book
http://books.google.com/books/about/Designing_interactive_systems.html?id=iWe7VkFW0
zMC
A US government usability website
 http://www.usability.gov/
2
Jakob Nielsen's site (Usability and Web Design)
 http://www.useit.com/
An evaluation framework
 http://www.tammypayton.net/courses/print/rubric3.htm
8 Teaching Resources
The lecturer responsible for this presentation of the course is Dr M J Rutter
(m.rutter@napier.ac.uk). The course material for this presentation may be found on
Moodle or at the following mirror site:
http://www.soc.napier.ac.uk/~cs104/ under “teaching”.
Electronic copies of this organiser, handouts, coursework specifications and additional
material are also available on local networks.
Where available, key textbooks have been placed in the Short Loan Collection in the
library.
9 Contacting the Module Leader
If you are studying this module remotely, then contact your local tutor first for personal help
or advice, but feel free to email the module leader (m.rutter@napier.ac.uk) with simple
queries.
3
Teaching Plan
Week No
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Lecture
Introduction, html, Personas
Site design process + User needs analysis & focus Groups
Interviews
Questionnaires
Information architecture & card sorting
Prototyping 1
Prototyping 2
Task Analysis 1
Task Analysis 2
Walk-throughs
Accessibility
Copyright
Week No
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Tutorial
Heuristics generation
Personas
Focus Groups
Interviews
Questionnaires
Card Sorting
Guest Lecture
Paper Prototyping week one
Paper Prototyping week two
Task Analysis
Walk-throughs
Support for Coursework 2
Week
Source
1
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
(no module activity)
Lecture notes
Handout
Quick Start Exercise 1
Quick Start Exercise 2
Quick Start Exercise 3
Quick Start Exercise 4
Quick Start Exercise 5
Advanced Exercise 1
Advanced Exercise 2
Advanced Exercise 3
Advanced Exercise 4
Activity
Heuristics generation
XHTML 1 & 2
XHTML 1 & 2
Creating a New Web site
Creating Page Layouts with Layers
Styling Your Web Site Using CSS
Creating More Pages
Adding Navigation Controls to Your Site
Creating Customised Interactive Buttons
Using Behaviours to change Content
Centring the Webpage
Creating Borders and a Background
4
Module Descriptor
Part one: Module leader’s section: core module details
1. Module title: User Centred Design for the Web
2. SCQF level: 08
5. Module number
6. Module leader:
3. SCQF credit value: 20
4. ECTS credit value: 10
IMD08113
Malcolm Rutter
7. School: Computing
8. Napier subject area: MISD – Multimedia & Interactive Systems Design
9. Prerequisites
Module code
Module title
Examples of equivalent
learning
10. What you will learn and what this module is about
This module will provide you with an introduction to the theory and practice related to the user centred design and
evaluation of interactive systems and devices and their application in professional practice with a particular focus on
Web design. You will learn about observational and direct methods to elicit user requirements, to create models of
existing practice, and to evaluate usability, all with a focus on user involvement.
11. Description of module content
Usability methods will cover the practical methods involved in gathering user-requirements with respect to a wide range
of interactive applications for the web and designing to meet those requirements. The methods will include techniques
such as interviews, observation, modelling of existing practice, participatory design techniques and user and expert
based techniques for evaluating system usability.
12. Learning Outcomes for module
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
LO1: Demonstrate an appreciation of the nature and character of user requirements.
LO2: Demonstrate an understanding of the range of methods of available to elicit and model requirements.
LO3: Undertake user-centred usability evaluation in a theoretically informed manner.
LO4: Plan, design and evaluate a website.
LO5: Demonstrate competence in the use of authoring tools.
13. Indicative References and Reading List
T1: Benyon, D., Turner, P, and Turner, S. (2005) Designing Interactive Systems, Addison Wesley, Harlow, Essex
T2: The ACM magazine Interactions
T3: Chapman,N and Chapman, J (2006) Web Design a Complete Introduction, Wiley, Chichester
T4: England,E and Finney A (2007), Managing Interactive Media Project Management for Web and Digital Media, 4th
Edition, Addison Wesley, Harlow, Essex
T5: Lazar, J (2006), Web Usability, A User Centered Design Approach, Addison Wesley, Harlow Essex
5
Part two: Module leader’s section: Versions
14. Occurrence:
15a. Primary mode of delivery – Face-to-face (class contact)
15b. Location of delivery: Scotland
Partner: N/A – Napier Delivery
Other partner (if more than one using same version):
15c. Member of staff with primary responsibility for delivering module, if different from module leader:
N/A
15. WebCT presence
Please select one:
1.  This version of the module does not require a WebCT presence.
2.  This version of the module requires a WebCT presence that is not shared with any other versions.
3.  This version of the module requires a WebCT presence that is shared with other versions (give details):
16. LTA approach
Learning and teaching methods including their alignment to LOs
This module will be primarily delivered face-to-face, supported by student centred activities and resources on WebCT.
Workshops will be timetabled which will comprise lectures, tutorials and hands-on practicals where appropriate.
The tutorial sessions will provide an opportunity to experience design challenges whilst the practicals will focus on
developing technical skills for the development of websites. Some of this time will also be set aside for monitoring
progress on the coursework.
A variety of online resource will be made available to match the diversity of learning styles, e.g. reading materials, links
to web resources, discussions, and self-test quizzes.
Embedding of employability/ PDP/ scholarship skills
Web usability and user-centred web design are core skills for both consultants and web developers employed in
institutions. The module will embed professional skills in working with clients and users and communicating designs.
The assessments will develop scholarship skills in information literacy and academic writing, and professional standard
report writing and project planning. They also produce material which will contribute to a professional portfolio
demonstrating practical experience in user centred web design.
Assessment (formative and summative)
The first coursework is designed to provide evidence of key practical and professional skills. This coursework will
enable early intervention where appropriate. The students will receive formative feedback at a planned review point.
(LOs 1, 2 , & 4)
The second coursework will assess project planning and the selection and application of appropriate techniques. (LOs 3,
4 and 5)
Research/ teaching linkages
The module will be designed and delivered by research active members of the MISD/HCI group who will inform the
learning experience by drawing on their research. Published research papers by these and others will be used
throughout.
Supporting equality and diversity
All students will be required to develop an awareness of universal design as part of their work. The provision of online
learning materials will support those students requiring to work outside the normal pattern.
Internationalisation
The module will address the challenges of requirements and design work for Web applications in different cultures. In
part, this will be achieved by encouraging students to share their own cultural perspectives.
6
17. Student Activity (NESH)
Mode of activity
Face-to-face
Face-to-face
Independent learning
L&T activity
Lectures
Tutorials
Individual learning activities
TOTAL NESH
18. Assessment
Week
Type of assessment
Component: Assessment One
Enter assessment element(s):
9
Coursework 1 – Requirements and design
13
Coursework 2 – Implementation and
evaluation
Component subtotal:
Component: Assessment Two
Enter assessment element(s):
Component subtotal:
Module total:
NESH
24
24
152
= 200 hours
Weighting
LOs covered
Length/ volume
40%
1, 2, 4
24 hours
60%
3, 4, 5
36 hours
100%
0%
100%
19. Length of module delivery.
Over how many trimesters is this module delivered?
 One
Two  Three
See Guidance Note 19
20. Trimester(s) of delivery.
TR1
7