Syllabus Notice

The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary.

Course Syllabus: Fall 2020

General Information

Course Name

CSCI 4800/6800 Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

Instructor

Dr. Michael E. Cotterell, Lecturer, Department of Computer Science (mepcott at uga dot edu)

TA

Surendra Rajkumar Prajapati (srp49124 at uga dot edu)

Brief Course Description

This course in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) covers issues in the design, development, and evaluation of user interfaces for computer systems. It also covers various concepts in human factors, usability, and interface design, and the effects of human capabilities and limitations on interaction with computer systems.

Prerequisites

  • Undergraduate Students

    • CSCI 1302

  • Graduate Students

    • CSCI 2720

Required Textbooks

Book:1

Ben Shneiderman, Catherine Plaisant, Maxine Cohen, Steven Jacobs, Niklas Elmqvist, and Nicholas Diakopoulos. Designing the User Interface. Pearson, Boston, 6 edition, 2017. ISBN 978-0134380384.

Book:2

Donald A. Norman. The Design of Everyday Things. Basic Books, New York, New York, Revised and Expanded Edition edition, 2013. ISBN 978-0-465-05065-9.

Offering Information

Discussion, Demos, and Q&A (DDQ)

In this course, DDQ stands for “Discussion, Demos, and Q&A.” Instead of using words like “lecture” or “lab” to describe the synchronous, interactive meeting times for this course, we will simply call them DDQs. DDQs also factor into your participation grade. More information about that can be found here.

Course Format: Hyflex

In Fall 2020, this course will employ the Hybrid Flexible (Hyflex) model.

  • all assignments are delivered asynchronously online

  • all scheduled time slots are for synchronous DDQs

Since all students may choose to attend some of the socially-distanced face-to-face discussions, a mandatory cohort assignment will be in effect. More information about these cohort assignments can be found here. To be clear, students enrolled in the course are expected to participate and engage in DDQs either face-to-face or remotely.

DDQ Meeting Times

Office Hours

Important Links

  • HCI Fall 2020

    That’s this website! You should bookmark it. It contains the course assignments, including readings, videos, homeworks, and the term project.

  • eLC

    eLearning Commons (eLC) is the online learning management system for UGA. This is where your grades will live.

  • eLW

    eLearning for Writers (eLW) is a peer review and journaling system currently being developed at UGA. If you need technical assistance with eLW, then email esupport@uga.edu and make note in the subject line that you need help with eLW.

  • Piazza

    Piazza will be used for online discussion and Q&A. The system is highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates, TAs, and the instructor. Rather than emailing questions to the teaching staff, you are encouraged you to post your questions on Piazza.

Cohorts Policy

In the following table, I’ve included the maximum allowed seating capacity that can enable 6-feet social distancing for all scheduled classrooms used for DDQs this semester. These numbfers reflect the maximum number of students that can be accommodated in each room. It assumes that there will be one instructor in the room (not included in the total displayed).

Table 1 Social Distancing Seat Capacities for HCI Fall 2020

Classroom

Days

Seating Capacities

Normal

Social Distanced

Chemistry 453

TUE/THU

66

24

Chemistry 553

MON

66

18

In order to facilitate the Hyflex face-to-face option under the university’s social distancing guidelines and reduced room capacities, each student will be assigned to a cohort. I’m required to assume the posibility that everyone will want to utilize the face-to-face option for DDQs. Under that assumption, each student may only attend face-to-face once every three class periods due to enrollment. Prior to Mon 08-31, each student will be assigned to a M (Monday), T (Tuesday), or R (Thursday) cohort. These assignments will be posted on eLC.

Here are some quick notes:

  • face-to-face is not mandatory

    Students may choose to always engage in DDQs remotely.

  • face-to-face is not always available

    DDQs will only be offered remotely prior to 8/31. This means that there is no face-to-face option prior to 8/31. When face-to-face is available, it is subject to cohort assignments and social distancing guidelines.

  • remote engagement is always available

    If you’re not attending face-to-face, then please attend remotely.

Students may only attend DDQs face-to-face on the days corresponding to their cohort assignment.

Principle Assignments

Homework

Each module will usually have a homework assignment associated with it.

Exams

This course has two regular exams, both of which will be delivered asynchronously online. The exact format of these exams is yet to be determined. More information about each exam will be posted on Piazza at least one week ahead of time.

DDQ Participation

Participation in DDQs will be measured using some combination of the following:

  • Activity Participation

    Sometimes these are simple attendance checks. Other times, I may ask you to submit something.

  • Engaging with Paper Presentations

    Some DDQs involve research presentations by graduate and honors students. If you are not presenting, then you will be asked to evaluate the presentation and ask questions. That evaluation will be collected and a participation grade will be recorded.

A yet to be determined number of participation assignments will be dropped. This allows you to theoretically miss some days.

CSCI 4800H/6800

If you are a student in CSCI 6800 or CSCI 4800H, then you must present one HCI research paper during a DDQ this semester. More information about paper presentations can be found on the Paper Presentations page. This assignment is formally graded and not purely based on participation.

Term Project

Details about the term project can be found on the Term Project page.

Grades

Numerical final course grades are calculated using the Assignment Breakdown table provided below, taking into consideration extra credit opportunities, dropped assignments, and category overflow (i.e., exceeding the possible number of points in a category overflows into the rest of your numerical final course grade). Numerical final course grades are not rounded. The letter grade that a student receives in this course will be the direct mapping of their numerical final course grade to a +/- letter grade using the intervals in the Letter Grade Breakdown table provided below.

Table 2 Assignment Breakdown

Category

Percentage

DDQ Participation

10%

Homework

25%

Exam 1

20%

Exam 2

20%

Term Project

25%
Table 3 Letter Grade Breakdown

Points Grade

Letter Grade

[94, 100)

A

[90, 94)

A-

[87, 90)

B+

[84, 87)

B

[80, 83)

B-

[77, 80)

C+

[74, 77)

C

[70, 74)

C-

[65, 70)

D

[0, 65)

F

Additional Information

Time Zones

Unless specified otherwise, all times provided in the various documents for this course (e.g., this syllabus, assignment descriptions, etc.) are assumed to be in the same time zone as UGA’s campus in Athens, GA, USA. You can see the current time in Athens, GA here.

Academic Honesty

As a University of Georgia student, you have agreed to abide by the University’s academic honesty policy, A Culture of Honesty, and the Student Honor Code. All academic work must meet the standards described in A Culture of Honesty, found here. Lack of knowledge of the academic honesty policy is not a reasonable explanation for a violation. Questions related to course assignments and the academic honesty policy should be directed to the instructor.

Reporting

All faculty, staff and students are encouraged to report all suspected cases of academic dishonesty. All cases of suspected academic dishonesty (cheating) will be referred to the Office of the Vice President for Instruction for academic dishonesty. Penalties imposed by the Office of the Vice President for Instruction may include a failing grade in the course and a notation on the student’s transcript. Repeated violations are punishable by expulsion from the University.

Sanctions

For this course, the minimum sanction for an academic honesty violation will be a zero on any related assignments and an imposed upper limit of letter grade C for final course grade. The instructors reserve the right to impose stricter sanctions, if warranted.

Collaboration Policy

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all assignment are to be completed individually. Absolutely no collaboration is permitted during exams. If collaboration on an assignment is permitted, then you must include the following with your submission: i) a list of students you collaborated; and ii) a few sentences outling how the collaboration impacts the submission.

Late Work Policy

In general, textbf{late submissions are not permitted.} Work not received by its associated final submission deadline will not be graded and will be assigned a “0” in the grade book. Exceptions will only be made under extenuating circumstances, as described in the Extenuating Circumstances Policy, provided that a written request is made to the instructor that is timely, polite, and includes appropriate evidence to support the extenuating circumstance. Scheduled maintenance of course-related apps, websites, and University systems is not considered an extenuating circumstance. If you need to make such a request under this policy, then please create a private post to the “Instructor” group on Piazza.

Re-grade Policy

If you believe one of your assignments was not graded correctly, then you may request a re-grade within 7 calendar days (i.e., not 7 class days) of receiving the grade. To make a request, please create a private post to the “Instructor” group on Piazza and include a detailed justification that outlines how your submission was graded incorrectly.

Extenuating Circumstances Policy

Students may only make up a missed exam or be considered for a due date extension for a project under extenuating circumstances such a serious medical injury, bereavement, trauma, or mandatory court attendance provided that a written request is made to the instructor that is timely, polite, and includes appropriate evidence to support the extenuating circumstance. If you need to make such a request under this policy, please create a private post to the “Instructor” group on Piazza.

Coronavirus Information

Face Coverings

Effective July 15, 2020, the University of Georgia—along with all University System of Georgia (USG) institutions—requires all faculty, staff, students and visitors to wear an appropriate face covering while inside campus facilities/buildings where six feet social distancing may not always be possible. Face covering use is in addition to and is not a substitute for social distancing. Anyone not using a face covering when required will be asked to wear one or must leave the area. Reasonable accommodations may be made for those who are unable to wear a face covering for documented health reasons. Students seeking an accommodation related to face coverings should contact Disability Services here

DawgCheck

Please perform a quick symptom check each weekday on DawgCheck—on the UGA app or website—whether you feel sick or not. It will help health providers monitor the health situation on campus: https://dawgcheck.uga.edu/.

What do I do if I have symptoms?

Students showing symptoms should self-isolate and schedule an appointment with the University Health Center by calling 706-542-1162 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). Please DO NOT walk-in. For emergencies and after-hours care, see https://www.uhs.uga.edu/info/emergencies.

What do I do if I am notified that I have been exposed?

Students who learn they have been directly exposed to COVID-19 but are not showing symptoms should self-quarantine for 14 days consistent with Department of Public Health (DPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Please correspond with your instructor via email, with a cc: to Student Care & Outreach at sco@uga.edu, to coordinate continuing your coursework while self-quarantined. If you develop symptoms, you should contact the University Health Center to make an appointment to be tested. You should continue to monitor your symptoms daily on DawgCheck.

How do I get a test?

Students who are demonstrating symptoms of COVID-19 should call the University Health Center. UHC is offering testing by appointment for students; appointments may be booked by calling 706-542-1162.

What do I do if I test positive?

Any student with a positive COVID-19 test is required to report the test in DawgCheck and should self-isolate immediately. Students should not attend classes in-person until the isolation period is completed. Once you report the positive test through DawgCheck, UGA Student Care and Outreach will follow up with you.

Disability Resources

If you plan to request accommodations for a disability, please register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC can be reached by visiting Clark Howell Hall, by calling 706-542-8719 (voice) or 706-542-8778 (TTY), or by their website.

Mental Health and Wellness Resources

  • If you or someone you know needs assistance, you are encouraged to contact Student Care and Outreach in the Division of Student Affairs at 706-542-7774 or visit the SCO website. They will help you navigate any difficult circumstances you may be facing by connecting you with the appropriate resources or services.

  • UGA has several resources for a student seeking mental health services or crisis support.

  • If you need help managing stress anxiety, relationships, etc., please visit BeWellUGA for a list of FREE workshops, classes, mentoring, and health coaching led by licensed clinicians and health educators in the University Health Center.

  • Additional resources can be accessed through the UGA App.