Spring Semester, 2001
These topics will be discussed at both a conceptual and tool level. By
the end of the course, you will be able to look at an existing system
or design a new system with an understanding of the impact it may have
on education, literacy, communication, or community.
Readings:
On-line materials: To supplement the readings, additional
material will made available through the class web site.
Homework late policy:
Here is the VKB User's Manual
The final project report (10-20 pages) will also require the design of an
evaluation procedure for refining the resulting interface. The in-class
presentations of project progress will be about 5 minutes long and the final
presentation on the project will be approximately 15 minutes long and include
all members of the team.
Project grades will be determined by both the instructor’s review of the
project and student’s description of their and other member’s work.
Programming for projects:
1. Write no more than three pages about the best educational computer
application you have used. Describe why you selected this application as
best. What was the topic you were learning? How did the system help you
learn? How did the instructor (if there was one) include the software with
other materials? How might you improve on the software and its use?
Important: All reports are to be printed on a word processor or typed
(no handwritten assignments will be accepted). All writing should be
the work of the student -- any text taken from other sources needs to
be quoted and referenced. It is expected that students will correct
grammar and spelling -- these are grounds to deduct from your
grade. (i.e. Use a spelling checker and reread what you write before
turning it in.)
Course description
This class investigates potential and realized impact of computers in
education, literacy, and the humanities. The computers and education
topics covered include (1) computer applications for the traditional
classroom, (2) computers and constuctivist pedagogy, (3) distance
learning, and (4) intelligent tutoring systems. The computers and
literacy topics covered include (1) effect of computers on reading and
belief of information, (2) computer’s impact on the author, reader,
and the interaction between them, (3) computers and argumentation, and
(4) interactive genres of literature.Prerequisites
Students should have a basic knowledge of computing and the
humanities, and the ability to program complex systems and be able to
learn new software tools on their own. Ask instructor if you have any
questions.
Reading materials
This course will focus around discussions of the readings. We will
read three books as well as papers taken from a variety of conferences
and journals concerning human-computer interaction, hypertext,
computers and education, and computers and the humanities.
Page to Screen, edited by Ilana Snyder,
book
Hamlet on the Holodeck, by Janet Murray,
book
Cybertext, by Espen Aarseth,
book
Grading
for 689 students: for 489 students:
Short assignments 20% Short assignments 30%
Class participation 20% Class participation 25%
Team project 40% Team project 45%
Term paper 20%
Short assignments
There will be a number of assignments due in class. These assignments
may require use of specific software outside of class time and will
take the form of short essays, written answers to questions, and
design documents. All material turned in should be printed using a
computer printer or typed except when noted otherwise.
10% is deducted from your grade for every
school day late up to a maximum of one week after the original due
date. Class participation
Most class periods will include a discussion of reading materials. One
student will be selected to present a brief (10-15 minute) overview of
the material for each class and another student (or two) will be assigned
to have discussion questions ready and lead discussion. All students are
expected to have done the readings and be able to participate in
discussions. Keep up with the readings so there will be no pop quizzes!Project
Students will form three-person teams and define a semester project or select
one from a list of existing ideas. There will be three preliminary progress
reports for the projects emphasizing particular phases of the interface
design process:
(1) identifying a topic, determining cognitive and social issues,
and determining an approach,
(2) creating an initial system design and mock-up, and
(3) instantiating the design in a prototype implementation.
done in language and operating system of your choice on
machines to which you have access. Term paper
Each 689 student will select a topic on which to write a 10-15 page
term paper. These papers are to describe the current state of
practice and research with references to the current
literature. Topics need to be approved by the instructor. Students
should be careful to properly use quotation and citation for
information from all sources. 489/689 Assignment 1:
Due in class on January 29