Click class topic name for full details about readings and lecture notes. Reading assignments are to be completed prior to each class. Be prepared to discuss.
| Date | Topic | Methods Introduced | Assignment Milestones |
| Jan 21 (Tu) | Course Introduction [slides] | ||
| Jan 23 (Th) | Basic Concepts & Definitions [slides] | ASSIGNED: Naïve Usability Test | |
| Jan 28 (Tu) | Planning Your Research [slides] | ||
| Jan 30 (Th) | Sampling, Recruiting, & Measuring [slides] | ||
| Feb 4 (Tu) | Interviewing [slides] | Interviewing | ASSIGNED: Interviewing Exercise |
| Feb 6 (Th) | Focus Groups & Object-Based Techniques [slides] | Focus Groups Card Sorting |
DUE: Naïve Usability Test |
| Feb 11 (Tu) | Observations & Field Visits [slides] | Observation Field Visits Contextual Inquiry Ethnographic Research |
ASSIGNED: Observation Exercise |
| Feb 13 (Th) | Intro to Usability [slides] | Usability Testing | DUE: Interviewing Exercise |
| Feb 18 (Tu) | Lab-Based, Remote, & Mobile Usability Testing Special guest: Melissa Short, Citrix [Melissa’s slides] |
– Lab-Based Testing – Remote Testing – Mobile Testing |
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| Feb 20 (Th) | Usability Test Reporting [slides] | Data Analysis Reports | DUE: Observation Exercise ASSIGNED: Usability Test |
| Feb 25 (Tu) | Expert Review [slides] | Competitive Research Heuristic Evaluation Cognitive Walkthrough |
ASSIGNED: Midterm Progress Report & Major Project |
| Feb 27 (Th) | Diary Studies & Cultural Probes Special guest: Mrudula Kodali, Salesforce.com [intro slides · Mru’s slides] |
Diary Studies Cultural Probes |
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| Mar 4 (Tu) | Surveys: Writing the Questionnaire [slides] | Surveys | DUE: Usability Test |
| Mar 6 (Th) | Surveys: Conducting the Survey [slides] | ||
| Mar 11 (Tu) | Basic Survey Analysis [slides] | ||
| Mar 13 (Th) | MIDTERM PRESENTATIONS | DUE: Midterm Progress Reports | |
| Mar 18 (Tu) | Intro to Qualitative Data Analysis [slides] | Qualitative Data Analysis Affinity Diagrams |
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| Mar 20 (Th) | Qualitative Data Analysis Workshop [slides] | ||
| Mar 25 (Tu) | SPRING BREAK | ||
| Mar 27 (Th) | SPRING BREAK | ||
| Apr 1 (Tu) | Diagrams & Models: People [slides] | Personas | Sign up for an appointment to discuss your (or your team’s) major project progress with Maggie before 4/10. |
| Apr 3 (Th) | Diagrams & Models: Tasks & Activities [slides] | Scenarios Task + Process Analysis |
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| Apr 8 (Tu) | Diagrams & Models: Concepts & Experiences [slides] | Experience Models Customer Journey Maps |
Major project check-ins this week. |
| Apr 10 (Th) | Reporting Research Results [slides] | Major project check-ins this week. | |
| Apr 15 (Tu) | Research & Design for Accessibility Special Guests: Lucy Greco & Jesse Hausler [Jesse’s deck] |
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| Apr 17 (Th) | Special Guests: Peter Merholz & Elena O’Curry [Peter’s “Double Diamond” deck] | ||
| Apr 22 (Tu) | Expert Panel: Kathy Baxter, Ame Elliott, Liz Goodman, & Erika Hall | ||
| Apr 24 (Th) | PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
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DUE: Major Project Presentation | |
| Apr 29 (Tu) | PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
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| May 1 (Th) | PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
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Course evaluations will be distributed at the end of this class. Don’t miss out! |
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| May 6 (Tu) | RRR Week | ||
| May 8 (Th) | RRR Week | DUE: Major Project Report |