Aug 25 & Aug 27	Introduction
Sep 3	Introduction
Sep 8 & Sep 10	Your Review & Library Resources (127 Capen - the Undergraduate Library's hands-on lab)
Sep 15 & Sep 17	What is Interaction Design?
Sep 22 & Sep 24	Mental Models
Sep 29 & Oct 1	Cognition (online)
Oct 6 & Oct 8	Error (online)
Oct 13 & Oct 15	Social Computing
Oct 20 & Oct 22	Enchantment
Oct 27 & Oct 29	Design in Context
Nov 3 & Nov 5	Usability Methods
Nov 10 & Nov 12	Analyzing Conversations (online)
Nov 17 & Nov 19	Present Your Review online
Nov 24 & Nov 26	Fall Recess
Dec 1 & Dec 3	Present Your Review in class

Cognitive Principles of Human-Computer Interaction

Overview

Cognitive principles, here, means our way of thinking, so the big question of this course is–what is our current way of thinking about how humans, i.e., us, interact with computers? Of course, to really understand what is important about what we currently think, we have to understand previous ways of thinking. So we will be looking at how we have conceptualized 9 different aspects of human computer interaction over the last 30 years.

Assignments & Grades

This course is about reading, summarizing & discussing the literature on Human Computer Interaction (HCI). The course will include weekly readings, writing assignments, and discussion both in-class and online. You will be expected regularly to summarize in writing, and then discuss and interpret specific published reports. All summaries must be completed before we discuss the reports (points will be deducted for late work). You will be expected to take part in activities, discussion and presentation of class material. You will also be expected to support an expansive and creative environment, where we can express and develop ideas. Quality and helpful discussion will positively affect your grade.

The scoring scheme is:

• 50% for 10 written summaries of the readings (note some papers are longer than others, so plan ahead);
• 30% for participation in the class discussions;
• 20% for 4 written summaries of peer-reviewed papers, at least two of which must be research, on your topic.

Books

D.A. Norman. The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic Books, 2002.

Important Dates

• Aug 29 Last day to drop/add Fall 2008 courses without financial penalty
• Sep 5 Last day to drop/add course.
• Nov 7 Last day to resign Fall 2008 courses

UB policies and procedures

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. Information on UB's policies regarding academic integrity is available on the undergraduate catalogue web site.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS. The Office of Disability Services (ODS) coordinates needs for special accommodations for eligible students. Information on registering is available on the Student Affairs web site. If you require special accommodations, please talk with me as soon as possible.
INCOMPLETES. Under certain circumstances, it may be possible to receive a grade of incomplete for the course. Guidelines for eligibility and other information is available on the undergraduate catalogue web site
EMAIL. All correspondence will be to your UB account. If you do not have a UB account, let me know in writing. Otherwise, if you want UB email to go to another account -- use mail forwarding (http://ldap.buffalo.edu/forward.html) to send your UB email there or use UB filtering (http://mailcluster.acsu.buffalo.edu/filter.html) to only send email from me there.

Office Hours

My office is 213 Baldy Hall. My office hours are by appointment. Send me an email to make an appointment.