SWE 632: User Interface Design and Development

Contact Information

Instructor: Dan Fleck
Phone: 703-993-1543
GChat IM: dan.fleck.gmu
 
Office: Engineering Building - 5343
Office Hours: Anytime by appointment

Class Information

Section: SWE   632 - 001 - 72680
Time: 4:30-7:10 Thurs
Location: East 122
Prerequisite: SWE 619 and SWE Foundation material
Schedule: See schedule page

TA Information

TA:
Sunitha Thummala
Email:
sthumma3 @ masonlive.gmu.edu
Office Hours:
Mon 3-4pm
Location:
Engineering Bldg (4456)

Tools

Piazza: Used to ask and answer questions.
Blackboard: All grades will be posted to Blackboard.
MasonLive email: Any communication from me to the class will use your MasonLIVE account.

Course Outcomes

To explore the role of the human in the design and implementation of software. To prepare students to design and evaluate the quality of an interface between computer software and the human user. After completing this course, students should understand how to design software interfaces that are appropriate for the user, be familiar with a variety of interface design strategies, and be able to evaluate the quality of a software interface.

Textbooks 

About Face Cover 1. About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction Design by Alan Cooper.


Optional Books

Don't Make Me Think - Cover ImageDon't Make Me Think by Steve Krug (read it online for free!)

Grading Policies

Evaluations 20%
Project 25%
Participation 5%
Midterm 20%
Final 30%


GRADE APPEAL POLICY:
If you feel you deserve a better grade on an assignment, you can appeal your grade in writing. Written grade appeals will only be accepted within 7 days of you receiving the grade. The appeal should clearly explain why you feel you deserve a higher grade. I will never lower your grade due to an appeal, but I may or may not raise your grade depending on your justification.

LATE POLICY:
All homework must be received by the deadline. Late homeworks and project deliverables will be docked 10% per day.

HONOR CODE STATEMENT:
As with all GMU courses, this course is governed by the GMU Honor Code. In this course, all assignments, exams, and project submissions carry with them an implicit statement that it is the sole work of the author, unless joint work is explicitly authorized. Help may be obtained from the instructor or other students to understand the description of the problem and any technology, but the solution, particularly the design portion, must be the student's own work. If joint work is authorized, all contributing students must be listed on the submission. Any deviation from this is considered an Honor Code violation, and as a minimum, will result in failure of the submission and as a maximum, failure of the class.

PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism is stealing the work of others and presenting it as your own. This includes written papers, but also computer programs, presentations, etc... anything that was not created by you should be referenced. When in doubt, add a reference. If you have any questions about whether you can or cannot use something you've found ask your professor or TA. If another student let you copy their work you are BOTH guilty. Any plagiarism violations will be sent to the Honor Committee. If you are found guilty of plagiarism twice in your university career you will be expelled. This is a very serious offense! More information about plagiarism is on the writing center website and at plagiarism.org. If you feel the need to do this for any reason, come talk to your professor and we'll work out a better plan. There is ALWAYS a better plan than plagiarizing!

This class will use automated tools to detect plagiarism (including written materials and source code).

DISABILITY STATEMENT:
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 703.993.2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office.