DGM 6268 01 : Usable Design for Mobile Devices Winter 2024

Course Information

DGM 6268 01 : Usable Design for Mobile Devices

Course Number: CRN 20377

Term:  Winter 2024 CPS Quarter - Full Term x12 Weeks

Term: Start January 8, 2024 through March 30, 2024 End Date

Credit Hours: 4.0

Course Format: Online – Asynchronous Canvas Login:https://canvas.northeastern.edu/

Meeting Days/Times: Weekly online – Virtual meetings TBD

Technical Requirements

Courses are available on Northeastern University’s Canvas at the following link:

http://canvas.northeastern.edu. Canvas Technical support and resources including 24/7 phone (1-833-450-   3937), and chat can be found on the help icon in Canvas. Northeastern Teachnical support can be accessed at 617-373-4357 (xHELP) orhelp@northeastern.edu.

Each student is responsible for his or her access to the internet for purposes of this course and for research. Internet access is a required component of this course and will not be accepted as an excuse for missed work. If you know that you will be traveling, then make sure you plan accordingly.

Note regarding e-mail/voicemail: If you e-mail, please include your name and class title. Please allow up to 48 hours for an email reply. If you leave a voicemail, please remember to include your name, class title, and phone number.

Required Text(s)/Software/Tools: (Please see Course Materials below)

Course Prerequisites

DGM 6168with a minimum grade of C-

Course Description

This course offers students an opportunity to apply the user-centered, human-computer interaction (HCI) skills covered in DGM 6168 to mobile digital media experiences such as game, entertainment, and social media applications. The coursework considers digital media design, aesthetics, and user behavior in mobile-based environments in the creation of a satisfying and engaging experience. It also offers students an opportunity to understand best design practices on a mobile platform by applying HCI methods such as iterative design and the evaluative methods of heuristic evaluation and user testing.

In this course section, we will focus on skills applicable to working in the field of usability design with students completing a project they can use for their portfolio.

Course Materials

There are optional textbooks for this class. Readings, multimedia content and other resources will be provided electronically via Canvas (http://canvas.northeastern.edu) and through the Internet.

• In order to complete some course assignments, you will need to use your choice of a prototyping tool. You may choose any tool, however, I’ve included several free resources. Contact me for information on free student trials of Balsamiq Mockups, Axure, or Figma. You’ll also need to be able to convert design documents to PDF for submitting. If you don’t have software for this, please reach out.

• Many of the readings in this course include relevant academic articles, including recent research in the field and videos. All are located within the Canvas website for the course. Supplemental materials may be direct links to articles within databases accessible through Northeastern University's Library system, PDF or HTML..

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

. Digital Communication

Synthesize knowledge and skills relating to a wide range of digital media and their application to enhancing organizational performance.

. Relationship Management

Apply principles, tools, and methods to successfully conduct stakeholder analysis and manage team and client relationships.

. Campaign Design and Management

Apply principles, tools, and methods to successfully conduct stakeholder analysis and manage team and client relationships.

. Communication Fluency

Craft effective written and/or visual messages to inform and persuade a wide range of stakeholders and audiences.

. Social Impact/Accountability

Develop digital campaigns that reflect high ethical standards and cultural awareness.

SAIL Baseline Mapping

Refer to SAIL websitehttps://sail.northeastern.edu/about/

Course Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Course learning outcomes are statements indicating the measurable outcomes of the course from the learner’s perspective. They describe the intended purpose of learning: the end results of the learning experience at the course level which should be aligned with the program competencies, program learning outcomes, and program map recorded in the College Academic Qualtiy Assurance process. These statements answer the question “What should the students be able to do by the end of the course?”

Based on satisfactory completion of this course, a student should be able to:

CLO1: Identify interactive usability app issues and challenges that marketing, creative/content and development teams of varying size and mission may face.

CLO2: Explain a range of usability, user testing methology and revisions/enhancements of these technologies. CLO3: Recognize thought leaders in mobile interactive development and leverage best practices for content marketing.

CLO4: Use Web analytics to assess audience experience, marketplace competition and/or to drive innovation. CLO5: Plan, create and revise designs through social media apps, digital programs, and mobile marketing applications and formats.

CLO6: Gain industry insights and use digital media skills in ways that can add to a career portfolio.

Expectations

.    Workload

o One (1) academic credit requires approximately 45 minutes a week of classroom or faculty

instruction and between two to three hours of out of class student work for a 12-week course. In other words, on the average, you should expect about three hours of instruction (on ground or online, depending on course delivery mode) and eight to ten hours of out-of-class work per  week for a 4 qh course.

o Discussion board workload will likely include a combination of student opinion and references to course content or student research. Any references to course content or written, viewed or audio research must be set off with citations. Direct quotations from any media form must be set off with double-quotes on the discussion board. No excuses for failure to reference such material will be accepted. APA citations form is preferred.

Attendance Policy

Standard guidelines are failure for 2 or more missed classes without prior notification or written medical or personal excuses. Students are usually marked late after the first class meeting if they are more than 10 minutes late without prior notice, except for weather-related issues. Consistent late entry (4 or more events) will equal at least one missed class.

Course Methodology

Each week, you will be expected to:

1. Review the week's learning objectives.

2. Complete all assigned readings.

3. Complete all lecture materials for the week.

4. Participate in the Discussion Board.

5. Complete and submit all assignments and tests by the due dates.

Participation/Discussion Board [ALL  STUDENTS – ALL  COURSE DELIVERY  MODES]

.   At least 1 Primary responses are due by 11:59  pm EST on the Thursday of each week

.   At least 1 secondary response are due by 11:59  pm EST on the Saturday of each week

To facilitate interaction, students are expected to review the online postings on a regular basis even after they have posted their own minimum required postings. Please treat your classmates and the instructors with the utmost respect. Inappropriate posts will be removed immediately. The instructor reserves the right to penalize students for repeated violations of the participation policy (and/or Academic Integrity Policy) within a course. In the discussion board and in class, high quality contributions advance the class discussions and do not simply summarize the material that was assigned. Quality contributions take into account not only the instructor’s questions but also yourclassmates’ contributions. Please be mindful that the Discussion Board is a space for academic exchanges. As a result, students are accountable for using proper and exacting punctuation, spelling, and grammar. In addition, you may be required to reference all outside sources in correct citation format. It is crucial that all participants maintain a high regard for proper decorum in the Discussion Board.

Evaluation Standards

Course Rubric will be distributed and described in detail during first few weeks course. (Adjustments to be made based on specific Final Project deliverables and reviewed with each student one-on-one during the   course duration.)

Points or a percentage of points will be deducted from any assignment or work handed in late without an excuse or for missing class (and class participation).

Grading

Graduate Programs Final Grading Scale