A sample of the introductory lecture for the Human Factors course I'm teaching this term. The slide doesn't give too much away, just shows the learning outcomes, assignments, and required texts for the course.

1. MDIA 2530
Human Factors for Interface Design

2. your instructor
• Cecily Walker, MLIS (call me Cecily)
• Web Services Librarian at VPL
• User Experience Consultant and Part-Time
Instructor
• Combined public and private sector
experience
• Rarely seen without a camera

3. about you
• Name (including what you’d like to be called)
• Professional area of interest
• What you expect from this class

4. what we’ll cover in this course
• Human factors
• Human-computer interaction
• Persuasion
• User-Centred Design
• Design Methodology
• Psychology

5. “required” text
• Neuro Web Design: What Makes Them Click? by
Susan M. Weinschenk, Ph.D.
• Not available at the BCIT bookstore (sorry!)
• Available from Amazon.ca, Chapters, and Safari
Books Online.
• Recommended texts will be available on the
course website.

6. ASSIGNMENTS

7. design logs
• Choose an interface (web, mobile, car
dashboard, household appliance, your
choice)
• Report on what works well and what doesn’t.
• Assignment details will be distributed at the
end of the previous week’s class
• Assignments due at the start of the following
week’s class
• Use photo, video, screenshots, and text to
tell your story.
Photo by cdemetriadis - http://flic.kr/p/6hBy3r

8. cognitive walkthrough
• Your chance to work as professional experts, taking turns
as expert/participant
• Evaluate the signup process for two well-known content
management systems/blogging engines
• You’ll work in pairs; group partners must be submitted no
later than at the end of Week 3
• Practice observing how people interact with web
applications, as well as data gathering, task analysis
• Focus on human capabilities and limitations of each user
and how each system addresses limitations, if at all
• Submit a report - using photos, screen captures, or video
• Detailed instructions to be distributed at the end of Week
3
Photo by mansikka - http://flic.kr/p/6W6jw3

9. term assignment: design brief
• Create brief that describes your student
portfolio website
• You will not be required to submit a
finished website for this course.
• Include task analysis, commentary on
usability of your site and any functionality you
plan to include
• Discuss how you plan to use persuasion to
make your portfolio stand out above others
• 10 minute presentation on last day of class
wireframe by mansikka - http://flic.kr/p/6jfQir

10. grading & assignment calendar
Assignment Due Date
Design Log 2
Design Log 1
15%
Design Log 1 January 12 15%
Attendance/Participation
Design Log 2 January 19 5%
Design Log 3
15%
Design Log 3 January 26
Cognitive Term Project
February 2 30% Cognitive Walkthrough
Walkthrough 20%
Term Project February 9