HCDE 501: Theoretical Foundations

Class Description & Policies

Instructor / NameMark Zachry, PhD
Email
Office 408 Sieg Hall
Telephone(206) 616-7936
Office HoursBy appointment
Texts and Supplies / During this course, you will need access to
course e-reserves

HCI Theory, Yvonne Rogers

The Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction (2 ed),

Course Goals / This course will introduce you to major theoretical perspectives from our field. By reading and writing about this material, you will have an opportunity to explore the complexities of interaction, communication, and technology as they are considered in influential theoretical frameworks. This exploration will include how interaction has been differently defined and why these differences matter to people who study and produce work.
By the end of the course, you should be able to
  • Define and map differences among some of the major theories that are currently most influential within the community of scholars in our field.
  • Explain and illustrate the implications of some of these theories on our perceptions of what texts, interfaces, and other designed artifacts are and how they function in human activity, organizations, and society at large: for example, to transfer information, construct reality, regulate conduct, and create identity.
  • Explain and illustrate the implications of some of these theories for people conducting research.
  • Explain and illustrate the implications of some of these theories for professionals.

HCDE 501: Class Description & Policies

Attendance / Contributing to class discussions regularly will help you succeed in this course. In class, we will discuss texts that will help you complete the major assignments for this class. In online discussion forums, you will interact with others in the class to advance your mutual understanding of ideas introduced in the assigned readings. If you must miss class due to illness, please contact the instructor prior to or as soon as possible after your absence.
Late Assignments / You should not turn in your assignments late. If you do not turn in your assignments by the dates indicated in the class schedule and on assignment sheets, they are late. For every day an assignment is late (without specific arrangements made with the instructor), it is worth ten percent less than the original total point value. Work more than 8 days late will receive zero credit.
Participation / On several occasions you will be responsible for reporting information to the class. You will also be participating in class workshops, during which you should make a contribution to your peers’ efforts. Active participation in class discussions will help you develop the knowledge you will need to successfully complete this course.
Assignment Quality / As a graduate student, you should produce polished documents for the major assignments that reflect the highest standards of professional writing.
You should produce final documents with few errors (grammar, mechanics, etc.). The standard for the final version of major assignments in this class is no more than one error per 100 words.
Reading / You are responsible for reading all of the material identified on the course schedule plus the additional readings assigned during the quarter. Record questions you have about the material and discuss them with the instructor or the class as needed.
Collaboration / This quarter, you will be asked to contribute to the success of your colleagues’ projects by providing them with feedback on their works-in-progress. You will also be collaborating with colleagues on some assignment work.

HCDE 501: Class Description & Policies

Plagiarism / The assignments you complete for this class should represent your own, original scholarly work. Please consult the related department guidelines for additional information about academic conduct and plagiarism.
Grades / Final grades for this course will be reported using the standard grading system of the University of Washington. Numerical grades are equivalent to letter grades as shown below. You must satisfactorily complete all assignments to earn a passing grade in this course.
3.9 - 4.0A
3.5 – 3.8A-
3.2 – 3.4B+
2.9 – 3.1B
2.5 – 2.8B-
2.2 – 2.4C+
1.9 – 2.1C
1.5 – 1.8C-
1.2 – 1.4D+
0.9 – 1.1D
0.7 – 0.8D-
0.0E

HCDE 501: Class Description & Policies

Assignments / The assignments for this class and their related percentage values for calculating final grades are shown in the table below.
Assignments / Percentage
Participation (reading journal and in the classroom) / 10%
Major Figure(Presentation with Summary) / 15%
Theory Connection (Short Paper and Presentation) / 15%
Group Web / 25%
Final Paper / 35%
Students with Accommodation Needs / Please talk to the instructor immediately if you have a need for unique arrangements to support your learning in this class.
1 / ZachryHCDE 501 / Winter 2013