A Different Case: Resources for Teaching Human-Computer Interaction

D. Scott McCrickard, Laurian Hobby

Center for Human Computer Interaction and Department of Computer Science
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0106
1-540-231-7409
{mccricks, lhobby}@cs.vt.edu

Abstract: Online materials and systems for teaching various aspects of human-computer
interaction (HCI) provide tips and tricks for creating good interfaces but often lack a clear picture
of how to best communicate to students the complete and coherent decisions made throughout the
interface design process. Students all too often see only finalized products instead of a report of the
decisions considered throughout the process and how the decisions made impacted later phases of
design. This roundtable will explore how online case study tools and repositories can be used to
enlighten students on the complex and unique aspects of user interface design. Participants will
share teaching experiences and explore what has and has not been successful for them. These
experiences will then be extrapolated into implications and requirements for online tools. It is
expected that participants in this roundtable will be able apply the tools we discuss in their own
teaching and will also contribute to a journal paper submission detailing the roundtable findings.

Objectives
The goal of this roundtable is to identify and establish teaching methods on the effective use of online and computer-based
resources in the teaching of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and related domains (e.g., usability engineering, information
visualization, interaction design). In particular, we will focus on the use of case studies—formal and informal reports of the
successes and failures in building interfaces and how HCI and related domains can use them. Specific objectives of the
roundtable include:
1. Identification and definition of learning objectives (e.g., establishing a targeted use setting, defining user characteristics,
creating effective visualizations) and available case materials (e.g., professionally prepared cases, contemporary articles, ongoing
project repositories, collections of tools and tips, repositories of “bloopers” and other negative examples) for the teaching of HCI
2. Listing of successes and failures in using case materials in achieving learning objectives in HCI
3. Relating case materials to learning objectives that has promise to aid in instruction
4. Identifying the key features of an integrated online system that would support the development and use of case materials for
each of the HCI learning objectives
5. Description of systems and system features for learning HCI that meet the needs identified in the previous objectives
6. Creation of a journal paper submission comparing and contrasting case methods and tools for HCI instruction

Outline
To cover the above stated objectives, we have designed a roundtable that will explore teaching philosophies and approaches of
participants, and then mold this material into an online tool. Below are the potential topics that we would like to cover in the time
given by the roundtable. In the first few minutes we will asses the interest of the participants and select one or more of the topics.
1. Background and discussion on teaching HCI (with contributions from participants), to include:
a. General philosophies to teaching HCI and interface design (10 minutes)
b. Discussion of specific goals in teaching HCI (30 minutes)
c. Listing of key learning objectives in HCI (10 minutes)
2. Description and discussion of computer-based HCI teaching materials
a. Introduction to types of case studies and similar computer-based materials (10 minutes)
b. Discussion of successes and failures in the use of case studies in teaching (30 minutes)
c. Listing of characterizations of case studies necessary to meet learning objectives (10 minutes)
3. Advancement toward guidelines and integrated tools for teaching HCI
 a. Discussion on general characteristics and implications for generating the best tool (20 minutes)
b. Outlining of journal paper submission and assignment of writing tasks (20 minutes)
c. Conclusions and wrap-up (10 minutes)
Audience Perquisites
This roundtable is primarily guided towards instructors who have taught or who are planning to teach HCI at the undergraduate
or graduate levels. This will facilitate a sharing of experience on what has and has not worked for educating HCI students about
design. Also, participants should be willing to share these experiences since they are so vital to the success of this roundtable.
Intended Experience Level
Intermediate

Instructor Qualifications
Dr. D. Scott McCrickard
Dr. D. Scott McCrickard (mccricks@cs.vt.edu) is an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech. He received his Ph.D. from Georgia
Institute of Technology in August 2000. Dr. McCrickard has extensive experience leading roundtables, focus groups, and invited
talks; most recently a roundtable at the ACM SIGCHI Conference on Providing Elegant Peripheral Awareness co-organized with
Mary Czerwinski, JJ Cadiz, and John Stasko. Dr. McCrickard has numerous education-related publications at venues like
SIGCSE, ED-MEDIA, and FIE, and he has received several awards related to his teaching activities, including the Georgia Tech
College of Computing Graduate Teaching Award in 1999 and the Frontiers in Education New Faculty Fellowship Award in
2004. In 2007, Dr. McCrickard will be the ACM SIGCHI Work-in-Progress co-chair with Catalina Danis. Dr. McCrickard has
been the instructor for over fifteen HCI-related courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and he has led numerous
students in independent studies. You can find more information about him at http://people.cs.vt.edu/mccricks/.
Laurian Hobby
Laurian Hobby (lhobby@cs.vt.edu) is a first year Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech. She received her Bachelors Degrees in
Computer Science and Psychology December 2004 also from Virginia Tech. Her Ph.D. research focuses on the use of cases in
teaching HCI, and she has numerous publications related to the topic. You can find more information about her at
www.laurianhobby.com.