Name
Pedagogic principle: social learning, student engagement
Topic
Principles of User Interface Design
Learning time
5 hours
Designed time
5 hours
Size of class
16
Description
It is good to involve students as much as possible in meaning making activities and knowledge co-creation. Some tools, such as mentimeter, allow each student to participate in learning and contribute their current knowledge and understanding and make it visible to others and for an instant feedback. It is a good practice to ask students to do any reading and individual work outside of the class, and focus the in-class time on collaboration and discussion of new concepts. The sequence of TLAs below illustrates how meaning making and knowledge co-construction can be facilitated through social learning rather than knowledge transfer.
Mode of delivery
Classroom-based
Aims
To enable students to apply principles in the user interface development process
Outcomes
Identify, Explain, Evaluate, Define
Editor
askawild
Derived from
Review of A TLA sequence to illustrate a pedagogic principle: social learning, student engagement by diana
Edit
Introduction to User Interfaces
300 minutes)
  • Read Watch Listen
    45
    16
    0
    At home, prepare for the class by reading the following articles: 1) types of user interfaces p.1-14 2) challenges to good interface design (p. 17-25) 3) Learnability, Efficiency, and Safety (p.31-37)
  • Produce
    15
    1
    0
    Individually, think about 3 computer interfaces you have used in the past day, write them down, and define 2 good and 2 bad qualities you notice. Now, write a definition of a user interface as you currently understand it. Post your definition using a menti code provided (menti.com). We will look at all the definitions and identify some commonalities.
  • Discuss
    20
    16
    0
    Reflect and discuss the definitions. What are the commonalities between them?
  • Read Watch Listen
    10
    16
    0
    Listen to the facilitator introducing a video you are going to watch that describes the importance of a good user interface.
  • Collaborate
    30
    4
    0
    In groups of 4 reflect on your previous thoughts and how you would now define a user interface. Then reflect on the video and discuss the important qualities of user interfaces given in the video. Add any qualities you think were missed in the video. Provide 2-3 examples of computer systems you interact with frequently directly or indirectly and illustrate the presence or absence of the qualities you have listed. 1-2 groups will feedback to the whole class, be prepared it could be you!
  • Discuss
    15
    16
    0
    Share examples with the class and together we will write a definition of the user interface, Facilitator will be your scribe.
  • Collaborate
    45
    4
    0
    Based on the assigned reading on (types of user interfaces p.1-14), in groups of 4, discuss the importance of a good user interface design, define good user interface design and identify the problems of bad user interfaces. A member from each of the groups will be required to present (5 min each)
  • Produce
    10
    16
    1
    Recall the assigned reading on challenges to a good user interface design. Use your notes on the types of challenges and think about your use of the different software applications provided in the Microsoft Office Suite. Choose one application, and think about a particular feature that you find confusing when you use it. Post the screenshot of the application and your reflections to the class website.
  • Discuss
    20
    16
    0
    Why is user interface design is so hard? What is usability? Discuss your ideas
  • Collaborate
    60
    4
    3
    Form mix-gender groups of 4 groups and visit the website you have been assigned. Interact with the interface and analyze the good and bad points of its usability with reference to all three dimensions of usability discussed in the assigned reading: Learnability, Efficiency, and Safety. Produce a short evaluation report in PowerPoint.
  • Discuss
    30
    16
    0
    Two groups will present their websites and evaluation results. All students are invited to comment and give feedback to the presenting groups.
Notes:
Before the class, students are assigned two readings and make notes: 1) types of user interfaces and 2) usability.
Resources linked: 2

Learning Experience

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Social learning graph will not display correctly, because one or more learning types do not have group size set.