KV7002 - Human-Computer Interaction for Social Change

Students will learn through weekly workshops which will combine lectures about key issues, topics and theories in HCI and Social Change, and hands-on practical skill learning and practice for doing HCI work. This will be accompanied by a group project in which they will respond to a provided brief to design and prototype an interactive artefact or experience for social change. Students will also complete a piece of substantial desk-based research and design work (written report) to motivate and understand a particular design context, and critically engage with academic HCI literature related to it.

Support on the module will be provided by the module team, e.g:

o The designated Module tutor and associated teaching staff (faculty members – the module team) including practical class support from PhD students and Post-docs working in the area of Human-Computer Interaction. The module team, will provide support for students including answering student queries and providing guidance in relation to the module, including its assessment and the student’s academic progress. You can seek support in-class and can also request it outside of class time via appointment (see ‘Communication with staff’)

o Communication with staff – this is supported in a number of ways, including:
o Email – you will be to contact members of staff via email
o eLearning Portal (eLP) - this is used to providing you with specific information related to the module, such as copies of lecture and seminar handouts, assignment briefings, instructions, and announcements
o Appointments - members of staff operate an open-door policy.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Understanding human-centred design principles, approaches and techniques
2. Understanding design skills for social change
3. Understanding of specific application areas of contemporary HCI
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. Group development of an interactive artefact or environment to support social change

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Demonstrate critical engagement with research, including with research papers, articles etc.

Coursework (100%):

Group project prototype and presentation/demo (40%) (MLO 1, 2, 4) [working to a brief, groups (of up to 8 members) will prototype and present an interactive technology and their documented design process to support some kind of ‘social change’ activity – depending on the brief set each year.]

Individual report (60%) (MLO 3,5) [1. A 2500 word report outling design documents generated from secondary research of a “social change” topic set each year. This will require desk-based research and individual design work, furthering understanding developed through the lecture material provided.]

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This module explores the human-centred design of interactive technologies to support social change. You will learn about how to design, develop and evaluate interactive technologies which will have a positive impact on society and the world. Working in design teams you will learn a suite of skills to support the design of novel digital technologies and experiences, which will add to your portfolio of product development and provide a chance to work on a group project answering a brief on a timely topic related to social change. This module will allow you to learn from, and work with, researchers from NORTH Lab (Northumbria Technology for Humanity) Northumbria’s world-leading collective of Human-Computer Interaction researchers.