Human-Computer Interaction Class Structure

COMP3900 / COMP6390 — Semester 2, 2026

• COMP3900 on Programs & Courses
• COMP6390 on Programs & Courses

This course provides an overview of the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and introduces students to key interaction and experience design paradigms, approaches and methods. The course equips students with theory, methods, and techniques to investigate different design situations, develop and prototype novel design ideas, and engage with the ethical dimensions of technology design.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Explain and illustrate key aspects of human-computer interaction.
2. Apply multiple perspectives, theories, and ethical and inclusive considerations in critiquing technologies and prototyping and developing new design ideas.
3. Investigate activities, practices, and contexts of technology use through contextual research methods.
4. Critically evaluate novel technology design ideas based on Human-Computer Interaction approaches.
5. (PG): Critically reflect on a designer’s own presence and influence within a technology design process.

How the course runs

Each teaching week has lectures and a two-hour tutorial. Tutorials run from week 2 to week 11 (10 in total) and are where the pre- and in-class tasks are assessed. Every tutorial is followed by a 30-minute drop-in consultation in the same room, and in week 12 the whole tutorial session is drop-in consultation for final project help.

Assessments

Full specifications for every assessment are on the course website; the summaries below are just an overview.

Pre-class and In-class tasks

Pre-class and in-class tasks are due in each tutorial (10 tutorials, 1% each, 10% in total).

The pre-class task is a weekly post on the course forum (100–200 words, with at least two references) which is discussed and developed during class.

In-class tasks are the main content of the tutorials: conceptualising and discussing HCI topics, experimenting with prototyping and research methods, and collaborating with other students to develop and evaluate interactive system designs.

Late submission is not permitted. Marks depend on attending and participating in your tutorial.

Rubric

Each tutorial’s mark is given by your tutor following this rubric:

• 0: did not attend class, or attended with pre- or in-class tasks not completed to a satisfactory standard.
• 0.25: attended and attempted one task to a satisfactory or good standard.
• 0.5: attended and attempted both tasks to a satisfactory or good standard.
• 0.75: attended and completed both tasks with at least one at a very good or excellent standard.
• 1.0: attended and completed both tasks to a very good or excellent standard.

Assignment 1: Prototyping

Assignment 1 (full specification) involves creating a prototype that solves a problem: an animal-computer interaction design challenge that asks you to redesign an everyday interactive system so it is accessible to one kind of non-human animal as well as a human.

Your submission includes your prototype materials and documentation as well as a written design rationale, submitted via your fork of the assignment template repository on GitLab.

Your work should include at least two references. Late submission is not permitted. This is an individual assessment.

Assignment 2: AI Needs Finding

Assignment 2 (full specification) involves conducting a small-scale needs finding study of how students use AI tools in a specific context of their lives.

You will plan the study, collect and analyse data, and present your findings as a needs analysis. Your study must involve at least one form of quantitative and one form of qualitative data and analysis.

Your submission includes your research plan, analysis, results, and conclusions, submitted via your fork of the assignment template repository on GitLab.

Your work should include at least five references. Late submission is not permitted. This is an individual assessment.

Final Project: Prototype Design and Research Project

The final project (full specification) involves a complete design and evaluation process for a prototype interactive system that helps university students adopt sustainable behaviours, involving some level of non-standard interaction.

You will develop a research question, design a testable prototype, and run an evaluation with 3–5 classmates, then analyse the data and articulate findings.

Your work is submitted as a portfolio including your prototype materials, research data, analysis, references, and a presentation covering the research question, design rationale, prototype demonstration, evaluation methodology, and results.

PG: You must reflect critically on your presence within the design process.

Your work should include at least five references. Late submission is not permitted. This is an individual assessment.

Assessment Table

Due dates are listed in each assessment specification and on Canvas — they are deliberately not duplicated here.

Class Structure Table