Course Outline and Syllabus

Course: EECS 4441 3.0, Human-Computer Interaction
Course Webpage: www.eecs.yorku.ca/course/4441
Term: Winter 2017

This course introduces the concepts and technology necessary to design, manage and implement interactive software. Students work in small groups and learn how to design user interfaces, how to realize them and how to evaluate the end result. Both design and evaluation are emphasized.

Prerequisites: General prerequisite; LE/EECS 2030 3.00 or LE/EECS 1030 3.00; LE/EECS 3461 3.00. (NOTE: The General Prerequisite is a cumulative GPA of 4.50 or better over all major EECS courses. EECS courses with the second digit "5" are not major courses.)
Course Credit Exclusions: LE/CSE 4441 3.00, AK/AS/SC/CSE 4441 3.00.

Course Instructor

Instructor: Steven Castellucci, PhD
Office: Lassonde Building, office 3048
Email: steven_c@yorku.ca (include "EECS 4441" in the subject line)
Office hours: T 14:30 - 15:30

Time and Location

Life Sciences Building, Room 107, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 13:00 - 14:30

Main Topics

HCI Techniques
Human Factors
The Design Process
Usability Testing

Evaluation

The final grade of the course will be based on the assessment items below, with the weights indicated. The weights will not be adjusted, and no "extra credit" assignments will be provided. In order to be fair and consistent with regards to the entire class, individual grades are not negotiable. Furthermore, marks for assignments and tests will not be "rounded" or "bell-curved".

If you believe that an assessment was graded incorrectly, you may request a reappraisal of the work. A reappraisal request must be properly submitted within one week of receiving the original grade. It is essential that you explain clearly why you think the work should be re-marked; otherwise, the grade will remain unchanged. Note that the assessment item (e.g., test) will be re-graded in its entirety and that re-grading can result in the grade being raised, confirmed, or lowered.

Assignment	10%
Project	45%
Mid-term test	25%
End-term test	20%

Grading: The final grade for the course is obtained by combining the scores of the assessments and converting this total to a letter grade according to the following table. Final course grades may be adjusted to conform to Department or Faculty grades distribution profiles.

≥ 90	≥ 80	≥ 75	≥ 70	≥ 65	≥ 60	≥ 55	≥ 50	≥ 40	< 40
A+	A	B+	B	C+	C	D+	D	E	F

Late or missed assessments: Late assignments or projects will not be accepted and receive a mark of zero (0), unless prior arrangement has been made with the instructor. Missed tests are handled in the same way. Note that exceptions to the late policy will be made only in serious cases and if the circumstances are documented and beyond your control. However, it is not permissible to have a cumulative makeup during the exam period.

The only accepted documentation for missing a test or other assessment due to illness is a properly completed Official York University Attending Physician's Statement based on an expert medical examination that occurred no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the missed assessment. An ordinary doctor's note will not be accepted.

This restriction is so that a physician can confirm that you are ill based on medical examination. The completed form can be submitted to your instructor electronically or in person, once you have sufficiently recovered. Contact your instructor to determine the appropriate documentation required for any other circumstance.

Email Policies

Include the course code and a brief indication of the topic in the subject line. In addition, include your name and EECS username. This is necessary to access your course materials. Also include any additional information that is pertinent to the topic of your email.
To save yourself time, do not ask a question whose answer is in the Course Outline and Syllabus. Search this document instead.
For guides on writing professional emails, read this.
Email messages not meeting these guidelines may not be answered.

Recording Lectures

Images and materials presented in lectures are subject to Canadian copyright law. Lectures are the intellectual property of the professor. Course materials are the intellectual property of the associated author(s). Neither lectures nor course materials should be distributed without explicit permission from the professor or author.

Photographs and audio recordings are permitted, provided they are used only as a personal study aid. They may not be sold, passed on to others, or posted online. Lectures can only be recorded from your seat. Exceptions may be made for students who are registered with Counselling & Disability Services and presented relevant documentation from their counsellor to the professor.

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to do their own work and to act with integrity. Looking at someone else's work during a test, talking during a test, using aids not permitted (such as a phone) during a test, plagiarism, not reporting cheating by someone else, and impersonation are all examples of academically dishonest behaviour.

We take matters related to academic dishonesty seriously and we take measures to detect irregularities during all assessments. For example, network traffic may be logged, video surveillance could be in place, and multiple versions may be used.

Students are expected to read and understand the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty. If you have any questions about the policy or would like to report a violation, please speak with your instructor.

Additional Information

Academic Integrity: There is an academic integrity website with comprehensive information about academic honesty and how to find resources at York to help improve students' research and writing skills, and cope with University life. Students are expected to review the materials on the Academic Integrity website.

Access/Disability: York University is committed to principles of respect, inclusion and equality of all persons with disabilities across campus. The University provides services for students with disabilities (including physical, medical, learning and psychiatric disabilities) needing accommodation related to teaching and evaluation methods/materials. These services are made available to students in all Faculties and programs at York University.

Students in need of these services are asked to register with disability services as early as possible to ensure that appropriate academic accommodation can be provided with advance notice. You are encouraged to schedule a time early in the term to meet with each professor to discuss your accommodation needs. Please note that registering with disabilities services and discussing your needs with your professors is necessary to avoid any impediment to receiving the necessary academic accommodations to meet your needs.

Additional information is available at the following websites:

Religious Observance Accommodation: York University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all members of the community, and providing reasonable accommodations for observances of special significance to adherents. Should any of the dates specified in this syllabus for an in-class test or examination pose such a conflict for you, contact the course director within the first three weeks of class. Similarly, should an assignment to be completed in a lab, practicum placement, workshop, etc., scheduled later in the term pose such a conflict, contact the course director immediately. Please note that to arrange an alternative date or time for an examination scheduled in the formal examination periods (December and April/May), students must complete an Examination Accommodation Form, which can be obtained from Student Client Services, Student Services Centre or online.

Student Conduct in Academic Situations: Students and instructors are expected to maintain a professional relationship characterized by courtesy and mutual respect. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the instructor to maintain an appropriate academic atmosphere in the classroom and other academic settings, and the responsibility of the student to cooperate in that endeavour. Further, the instructor is the best person to decide, in the first instance, whether such an atmosphere is present in the class. The policy and procedures governing disruptive and/or harassing behaviour by students in academic situations is available online.