University of Maryland University College
                                                  Distance Education

            PROMOTION SYLLABUS:   IFSM 303 - Human Factors in Information Systems

Instructor:           Wendy Davis-Gruber

Prerequisites:         IFSM 201 or CMIS 102 or equivalent.
Credit:                   Three (3) semester hours

Dates/Times:        Distance Education,  Term III-IV,  27 January - 16 May 2003

Textbook:          Interaction Design, Beyond Human Computer Interaction,  Preece, Rogers, Sharp, Wiley Pub., 2002.
 

Have you ever wondered what Design Interface was all about?  Wondered why you couldn't get this piece of equipment to work the way "its supposed to"?  Thought "It must be me and not the computer - computers never make mistakes".  Why should human learning styles be of primary concern in the design of new systems?  Why are we not designing for the average user anymore?  What's wrong with using red and green colors in web page design?   If these are topics that interest you, then sign up for  IFSM 303 - Human Factors in Information Systems.  Our course surveys the history, development, and the current state of human factor’s application in the design and use of interactive information systems.  We will look at  the impact of information systems on the organizations that use them.  We will examine the  tools used in the development and application of interactively designed systems used to solve problems involving humans, machines and our environment.   You will have an opportunity to further explore human factors topics by completing either an on-line project or an assigned  research paper.

Objectives:     You  should have a  working knowledge of the following by the end of this course:

                              Human -Computer Interaction components
                              Interaction Models
                              Design activities and usability characteristics
                              Communication Model
                              Evaluation techniques used in design

Grades:         Grades will be based on the following class assignments:

                            Homework  and group work                  30 %
                            On-line Midterm                                    20 %
                            Paper/Project                                       25 %
                            Final Exam                                             25%

                      And are awarded as follows:

                            A               92 - 100 %
                            B               81 - 91 %
                            C               70 - 80 %
                            D              60 - 69 %
                            F(A)         below 60 %

Projected Schedule:                                            

Week 1  Jan 27 - DE classes begin:
Introduction / Get Connected /Student Survey
Week 2-6 First half of text CH 1- 9(roughly) class discussion, homework

Last Day to withdraw for 75% refund is Feb 7
Week 7  Midterm Exam  Week (Mar 9-10 - online)
Break  Mar  17 - 30  
Week 8 -12 Mar 31 - Beginning of the second half of the course.
Second half of text, class discussion, homework, Class Exercise 
Course Evaluation (Week 12 - on-line)
Week 13  Course Review / Paper/Projects Due May 2nd
 Last day  to withdraw from Class is May 9th
The last date to turn in any late homework, etc. is May 9th, 2003
Week 14  FINAL EXAM Week (on-line)  May  11th - 12th, 2003

Grades will be posted by May 26th in Web Tycho

                          

Complete Syllabus  (posted - Jan)                     Back to Home Page               Top of  Page

This document was last changed on :  Jan 2nd, 2003