Instructor: Mahmood Jasim
Email: mjasim@umass.edu
Office hours: Tuesdays 4:00pm to 5:00 pm @ LGRT T220.
Zoom link - https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/my/mjasim

TA: Mahsa Sahebdel Alamdari
Email: msahebdelala@umass.edu
Office hours: Tuesdays 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm @ LGRT T220

TA: Mashrur Rashik
Email: mrashik@umass.edu
Office hours: Thursdays 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm @ LGRT T220

Human-Computer Interaction is “designed for human use”. Computers are a ubiquitous part of many interactions in our lives, from the mundane everydayness of light switches and “smart” vending machines to entertainment and education to sophisticated instruments and complex energy and defense systems. In this course, we will challenge you to broaden your grasp of what a user interface can and should be, and try your hand at doing better yourself. It is a fast-paced, hands-on, project-based experience that will challenge many of your ideas of what computer science is and can be. It is designed around active lecture sessions supported by optional readings, in-class activities, and team projects, where students practice and explore the concepts introduced in lecture, and go well beyond them to learn and apply HCI techniques that build into group projects. More specifically, the course adopts a human-centered design (HCD) approach and covers design methodologies, evaluation methodologies (both quantitative and qualitative), human information processing, cognition, and perception.

There is no textbook required. However, we have optional readings from a collection of book chapters, survey and research papers, and articles. If you want to learn more about HCI we suggest the following books that are optional for you to read.

• Research Methods in Human-Computer Interaction, 2nd Edition (Jonathan Lazar, Jinjuan Heidi Feng, and Harry Hochheiser)
• Interaction Design beyond Human-Computer Interaction, 5th Edition (Helen Shart, Jennifer Pierce, Yvonne Rogers)
• The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition (Don Norman)

The late policy will only be applicable to individual assignments and the midterm. You will be allowed to submit the deliverables of individual assignments within a week of the original submission date with a 50% penalty. It will not be extended further. The reason for the late submission must comply with the University of Massachusetts Amherst class absence policy and academic regulations (https://www.umass.edu/registrar/students/policies-and-practices/class-absence-policy).

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity for all students. If you have a documented physical, psychological, or learning disability on file with Disability Services (DS), you may be eligible for reasonable academic accommodations to help you succeed in this course. If you have a documented disability that requires accommodation, please notify me within the first two weeks of the semester so that we may make appropriate arrangements.

Since the integrity of the academic enterprise of any institution of higher education requires honesty in scholarship and research, academic honesty is required of all students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Academic dishonesty is prohibited in all programs of the University. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and facilitating dishonesty. Appropriate sanctions may be imposed on any student who has committed an act of academic dishonesty. We will take reasonable steps to address academic misconduct. Any person who has reason to believe that a student has committed academic dishonesty should bring such information to the attention of the course instructor as soon as possible. Instances of academic dishonesty not related to a specific course should be brought to the attention of the appropriate Department Head or Chair. Since students are expected to be familiar with this policy and the commonly accepted standards of academic integrity, ignorance of such standards is not normally sufficient evidence of lack of intent. See the full academy honesty statement here - http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty

In this course, each voice in the classroom has something of value to contribute. Please take care to respect the different opinions, choices, experiences, beliefs, and values expressed by the students, faculty, and staff involved in this course. My colleagues and I support UMass’s commitment to diversity, and welcome individuals regardless of age, background, citizenship, disability, sex, education, ethnicity, family status, gender, gender identity, geographical origin, language, military experience, political views, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and work experience. See the full inclusivity statement here - https://www.cics.umass.edu/diversity

For the health and safety of all members of our campus community, students are expected to follow all COVID-related policies on campus. At the start of the Fall 2021 semester, there are two policies in effect that deserve special mention. First, students are required to follow the Daily Self-checklist. Students who are ill must not attend class, and they will be offered reasonable accommodations for missed work. Second, students must follow the masking policy while it remains in effect. Your instructor will remind you to wear a mask that securely covers your mouth and nose, and direct you to a nearby mask station if you do not have one. If you are unwilling to mask, you will be asked to leave the class. If you do not leave the class, the instructor will end the class, and the Dean of Students office will be informed that you have disrupted class and violated the Guidelines for Classroom Civility and Respect. Anyone with a mask exemption must provide prior written notice to the instructor and must maintain at least six feet of distance from faculty and other students at all times.