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Presentation held at the HCI@Large workshop, at the CHItaly 2011 Conference, Alghero, 13 Sept 2011. The paper can be found in the document section of slideshare
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Teaching HCI to Undergraduate Computing Students: the Quest for the Golden Rules
Roberto PolilloDISCO – University of Milano Bicocca
CHItaly, Alghero, Sept 13, 2011
The goal
Discuss my experiences / opinions on teaching HCI courses
Based on my HCI and Web lab courses at University of Milano Bicocca (10 & 6 years respectively)
Which students am I talking about?
Undergraduate "computing" students "Computing" according to ACM-IEEE curricula:
Computer Engineering (CE) Computer Science (CS) Software Engineering (SE) Information Technology (IT) Information Systems (IS)
In Italy, "classe di laurea in Informatica"
HCI courses
Well established contents and goals Founding document:
ACM SIGCHI Curricula for HCI, 1992 HCI considered a "core" knowledge area in most
ACM-IEEE computing curricula (CE 2004, CS 2008, SE 2004, IT 2008, IS 2010)
"HCI literacy" recognized as essential for any computing professional
So where is the problem?
1. Slow to very slow recognition of HCI relevance from the mainstream computing community HCI courses, when offered, are often optional2. Available teaching space is very limited3. HCI as a knowledge area is very broad and interdisciplinary4. Distance from the mind-set of typical computing students
This is not acceptable in 2012
Most of our undergraduate computing students are
USABILITY ILLITERATE
Consequences
1.Slow to very slow recognition of HCI relevancefrom the mainstream computing community HCI courses, when offered, are often optional
E.g.: In Italy, less then one third of curricula in Informatica have a mandatory HCI course Source: GRIN data on 52 certified first level degrees, for 2009
How many CS profs would agree on this?
ACM-IEEE IT Curriculum, 2008
2. Available teaching space is very limited
3. HCI as a knowledge area is very broad and interdisciplinary
Example: knowledge units of HCI knowledge area
ACM-IEEE Curriculum for Computer Science, Revision 2008
4. Distance from the mind-set of typical computing students
What we HCI teachers should do
1. Fight to have one HCI mandatory course in everycomputing curriculum
2. Identify th minimal learning goals of an HCI course
3. Strongly improve course effectivess within the existing time constraints ("The Quest for the Golden Rules")
Learning goals
Twofold: Cultural
Understand goals, concepts and methods of HCI as a discipline
Practical Being able to apply them in the design of usable systems
This is a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE within the stated constraints
Learning goals minimized
Twofold: Cultural
Understand goals, concepts and methods of HCI as a discipline
Practical Being able to apply them in the design of usable systems
This is a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE within the stated constraints
Changing teaching methods
Concepts(lectures)
Practice(projects)
TRADITIONAL (TOP-DOWN, DEDUCTIVE)
apply
Problem(projects)
Conceptualization (coaching)
SUGGESTED (BOTTOM-UP – INDUCTIVE)
discusscomment
What kind of project?
Design Prototype User testing
Simple, "real" system Zero learning-time tools
Coaching and conceptualization by teacher
Simple settings, real users & collegues
Iterative prototyping of a simple interactive system
10 Golden Rules for teaching HCI
1. Practice first, concepts follow2. Situated design, not simulation3. Interaction, not description4. Mostly coaching, not teaching5. User testing is mandatory6. Iterate prototypes until "Wow!"7. Make students learn design, not design tools8. Ban any intrusive prototyping tools9. Use the Web as a resource10. Capitalize on student specific experience
Thank you!