Business-driven assignment for teaching HCI

Corina Sas and Alan Dix

Computing Department, Infolab21, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

< Corina on the Web > < Alan on the Web >

Paper at HCI Educators 2008. architecting the future. Rome, Italy, 2-4 April 2008


Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to offer a reflection on some of the challenges of teaching interaction design. A proposed solution to address these challenges is through a business-driven problem which has been translated into a research question to be tackled by students in their learning context. The case study outlines and evaluates the six stages of this process. Apart from providing the company with research solutions that can be used to improve its profitability, other benefits consist of better teaching/learning process which emphasises learning by doing and involves applying research knowledge and skills in an industrial project. The paper also highlights the lessons learned and the understanding gained into how this approach can be successfully replicated.

Keywords: Interaction design, case study, business-driven project, collaborative design project

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Full reference:
C. Sas and A. Dix (2008). Business-driven assignment for teaching HCI. in HCI Educators 2008. architecting the future. Rome, Italy, 2-4 April 2008. http://www.hcibook.com/alan/papers/ HCIed2008-business/
more:
Escendency - the company studied
Alan's pages on Research and Innovation Techniques and essays on imagination and rationality and related topics
related papers:
A. Dix, T. Ormerod, M. Twidale, C. Sas, P. Gomes da Silva, L. McKnight (2006). Why bad ideas are a good idea. in Proceedings of HCIEd.2006-1 inventivity, Ballina/Killaloe, Ireland. 23-24 March 2006    abstract and paper
C. Sas and A. Dix (2006). Exploring the design space. in DIS 2006 Workshop: Exploring Design as a Research Activity, Penn State, USA. 25 June 2006 abstract and paper
C. Sas and A. Dix (2007) Alternative design brief for teaching interaction design. In Proceedings of HCI Educators 2007: Creativity3: Experiencing to educate and design. (Aveiro, Portugal, 29&30 March 2007).
abstract and paper

 


http://www.hcibook.com/alan/papers/HCIed2008-business/

Alan Dix 1/3/2008