Subject to Change
Catalog Description
User Experience Fundamentals will explore the facets of the user experience discipline: interaction design; user research; usability; navigation; and information architecture. Students will apply theory and skills from the class in real-world projects developing apps or websites for small businesses, non-profits, or start-ups.
Learning Outcomes
- Conduct user research and come to conclusions about user needs
- Create personas that accurately portray project users.
- Demonstrate practical principles of information architecture.
- Create an efficient and accessible interaction design for interactive products.
- Apply accessibility practices to interactive design.
- Conduct tests to measure the usability of interactive projects
- Ability to design interfaces for websites and mobile applications.
Course Information
Textbooks
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The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond. 2nd Ed. Released 2002. <– note date
Publisher: Voices That Matter
ISBN: 978-0321683687
This is an older book written by the guru of user experience. It is widely available “used.” No one has written a better guide to user experience than Jesse. |
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Additional assigned readings and videos are listed in the Course Schedule. You are expected to read chapters or articles or watch videos before class. The only exception is LinkedIn Learning Video Courses which are assigned a Due Date.
Tools
We will be using IRL tools like pencils, paper, whiteboards, and Post-it notes. These are commonly used by UX professionals.
We will also be using an online/desktop/mobile tool called Figma. It includes FigJam, a brainstorming and diagramming tool.
LinkedIn Learning Courses
The Course Schedule lists assigned LinkedIn Learning video courses related to the topic of the week. They are listed in this LinkedIn Learning Collection. You will watch these videos outside of class; we may not discuss them but I expect you will use the knowledge.
WARNING: Yes, there are many LinkedIn Learning courses assigned in this course. They are all important to the curriculum of the course and some are especially important to the success of your projects. I know it’s easy to play the course videos in the background at 2X while you do something else. Except for those that have quizzes the videos run non-stop to the end. DO NOT do this. You will miss out on important knowledge acquisition that as I said will be important to the success of your projects.
- Planning a Career in User Experience
- UX Design 1 – Overview
- UX Design 2 – Analyzing User Data
- UX Design 3 – Creating Personas
- UX Foundations: Research
- Figma for UX Design, FigJam for Non-designers, FigJam for Designers
- UX Design 4 – Ideation
- UX Design 5 – Creating Scenarios and Storyboards
- UX Design 6 – Paper Prototyping
- UX Foundations: Prototyping
- UX Foundations: Accessibility
- Using Stark for Accessible Design Projects
- UX Foundations: Usability Testing
After completing each LinkedIn Learning course you will receive a certificate. You will upload these certificates to the appropriate Dropbox in D2L for a grade. The certificates may also be listed on your résumé and can be automatically uploaded to the Certifications section of your LinkedIn profile.
Current Events
Working professionals stay up to date about current industry topics. The easiest way is to subscribe to at least one of the following websites/newsletters/podcasts. Read articles from them daily. We will talk about current events in every class. These are also good sources of information for the five topic web posts that will be assigned.
The best way to keep up with blogs and websites is by using their RSS feed. You’ll need desktop, online, or mobile software to read RSS feeds. I recommend feedly, a web app, mobile app, and browser plugin.
Professional Activities
Part of working in a discipline, an industry, or a job is staying connected. As Woody Allen said: “Eighty percent of success in life is showing up.” So there are some places where you should try to “show up.”
- NashUX – Meetings are second Thursday of every month at 6:00 pm. Join the Slack workspace (I can send you an invite) to keep up with UX in Nashville. This is a great place (live and on Slack) to ask questions
- Nashville Product – Meetings are on the second Tuesday or Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm. They also have a Slack workspace (I can send you an invite.) User experience is one aspect of “product management”. Product is anything a business might do for their employees or customers: a website, an app, a process, etc. This is a great place (live and on Slack) to ask questions.
Evaluation/Grading
I expect professional behavior. That’s your contract. My side of the bargain is providing you with valuable work to do.
You may receive up to 1760 points this semester for your work.
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NOTE: A grade of C or better is required for all Media and Entertainment major and minor students. You will be required to repeat the course if you receive a grade of C- or lower. This course is only offered in the spring semester.
Feedback
Assignment feedback and grades will be returned within at least 2 weeks of the assignment’s due date. Email questions regarding assignments will generally be answered within 24 hours of receipt.
Copyright and Course Assignments
All materials used in a project created by you specifically for the project or obtained specifically for the project. Copyrighted material may only be used with written or emailed permission of the copyright holder(s). If you use your material for your client you should either grant them the rights or negotiate a fee. Other allowed materials include Creative Commons and Public Domain materials used with proper attribution. (See the Academic Misconduct section)
Points may be deducted from an assignment for use of copyrighted material without permission of the copyright holder.
Dress Code
Regular Class Days: What you wear to school.
Presentation and Guest Speaker Days: Any day you present something to class (there will be several opportunities) or if we have a guest speaker you must dress for the professional environment. The picture shows some acceptable examples.
Acceptable apparel includes dark or light jeans, dress slacks, collared shirts, skirts, and dresses.
Unacceptable apparel includes:
- faded and or ripped jeans
- tee shirts
- logos on any clothing item
- midriff tops
- sneakers
- hiking boots
- hats
- hoodies
If you aren’t sure if what you’re wearing is acceptable attire then it probably isn’t.
If you do not have professional attire you will need to get some. Either bring it from your parent’s home or purchase some (Goodwill.) The MTSU Career Closet in the KUC provides each student with one complete business outfit each year.
Professional business attire is the minimum for every meeting or interview before you’re hired. After you’re hired you can dress appropriately for the environment or your role. Asking about this during your interview is ok.
Mechanics, Levers, and Gears
Assignment Submission Requirements
- No name on a submitted document: Failure to include your name on the submitted assignment – lose one full grade point, i.e. a B becomes a C, etc.
- Up to 7 days late: The assignment will lose one full grade point, i.e. a B becomes a C, etc.
- 8 or more days late: The assignment receives a 0 grade
D2L
You will upload assignments to D2L, along with other work that is assigned. You will be assigned grades in D2L.
We WILL NOT use D2L email. I will not be checking that Inbox. Send all emails to me at todd dot oneill at mtsu dot edu from your mtmail.mtsu.edu address. No other FROM address should be used. Department policy, not mine. Use a subject line that includes your question or comment. The course number is helpful too. (See Email section below.)
GroupMe
I have created a Group.me list for this course. Join it here. Group.me is a text message service. Your phone number remains hidden. We can exchange messages about the class, and projects, or ask each other questions, etc. I will also use it for class announcements instead of email. It works on smartphones and feature/flip phones; any device that can send or receive text messages. Text message rates may apply. Your mileage may vary. Keep your hands inside the car at all times.Batteries not included.
Incomplete Grades
Incomplete grades are given rarely and only in extenuating circumstances. Page 56 of the MTSU Undergraduate Catalog states: “The grade I indicates that the student has not completed all course requirements because of illness or other uncontrollable circumstances, especially those which occur toward the end of the term. Mere failure to make up work or turn in required work on time does not provide the basis for the grade of “I” unless extenuating circumstances noted above are present for reasons acceptable to the instructor.” Please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for the complete Incomplete Grade Policy.
Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all course communication will be conducted using MTSU email. Faculty will not respond to student emails via a non-institutional assigned email account.
- Please check your MTSU email once a day for communication regarding this course. Course emails will begin with the course number and then the subject of the email.
- Always include a subject line and sign your name. Please also note the Course Name.
- Remember, without facial expressions, some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails.
- Do not send large attachments without permission.
- Use standard fonts.
- Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, HTML, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
- Respect the privacy of other class members.
Midterm grades
The University has instituted midterm grade reporting. Your midterm grade is based upon a small fraction of the work that will decide your final grade. Your midterm grade should not be interpreted as a strong sign of what your final grade may be. Most of your final grades will be determined by how you do in the second half of the semester.
Attendance
You must sign in to class every day. Regular attendance, active participation in class discussions, and a demonstrated grasp of major concepts are essential for obtaining a good grade in this course.
Excused Absences require a doctor’s note or discussion with the instructor at least 1 day BEFORE the absence.
Covid-19 Statement
Attendance: You should not attend in-person class if you are ill, have any symptoms listed in the PreClass COVID-19 Self-Assessment, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been in close contact with others who have tested positive. If you have tested positive or have been in close contact with someone who has, you should self-quarantine. You are expected to keep me informed regarding your status when you are absent from class and act in good faith and honesty when determining whether or not you attend class. There’s more information here.
Masking: You may wear a mask in class if you prefer. Masks are defined as disposable single-use paper masks, cloth face coverings with ear loops or ties, balaclavas, gaiters, and bandanas that cover the nose and mouth. Students who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons must have a written accommodation from the Disability and Access Center.
Here’s additional guidance on MTSU rules, facilities, and schedules.
Your Mental Health
As a college student, you may experience a range of challenges and issues that can interfere with your physical and mental well-being, hinder your academic experience, and negatively impact your daily life. Some of these experiences may include overwhelming depression/sadness, anxiety, high levels of stress, use of alcohol/drugs, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and/or loss of motivation.
If you or any of your classmates are experiencing these issues, it is important to reach out and ask for help. Discuss your situation with a friend, a family member, your instructor, or an academic advisor. Remember Everyone struggles. It’s okay to talk about it. Ask for help. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
For assistance contact MTSU Counseling Services, KUC 326S, 615-898-2670 (free for students) or MTSU Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, Miller Education Center, 503 East Bell Street, Suite 100, Murfreesboro, TN, 615-898-2271 (Free for students and staff).
If you or someone you know is thinking about harming themselves call the national 988 line for help.
Academic Misconduct
Middle Tennessee State University takes a strong stance against academic misconduct. Academic Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, and fabrication.
Academic Misconduct: Plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, or facilitating any such act. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
- Plagiarism: The adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works of another person as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes self-plagiarism, which occurs when an author submits material or research from a previous academic exercise to satisfy the requirements of another exercise and uses it without proper citation of its reuse.
- Cheating: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. This includes unapproved collaboration, which occurs when a student works with others on an academic exercise without the express permission of the professor. The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours.
- Fabrication: Unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
To be clear: going online and taking information without proper citations, copying parts of other students’ work, creating information for the purposes of making your paper seem more official, or anything involving taking someone else’s thoughts or ideas without proper attribution is academic misconduct. If you work together on an assignment when it is not allowed, it is academic misconduct. If you have a question about an assignment, please come see me to clarify. Any cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of Academic Affairs for violating the academic honesty requirements in the student handbook. They will also result in failure in the course. Remember – ignorance is NOT a defense.
Artificial Intelligence
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to produce content without proper attribution or authorization, when an assignment does not explicitly call or allow for it, is plagiarism. See above for the penalties. AI technology is constantly changing and identifying AI-generated content is always changing. Use generative AI at your own risk. Take note that unauthorized use of AI ticks all three boxes in Academic Misconduct.
Diversity
Negative statements about race, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or religion will not be tolerated. Please choose your words carefully and be mindful of the differences in this classroom. Students who violate this policy may incur grade deductions and/or be asked to leave.
Tutoring
Free tutoring is available in study skills, learning strategies, and several courses such as biology, physics, history, computer information systems, math, psychology, economics, the recording industry, and many more.
The central location for tutoring is the Tutoring Spot, located in Walker Library. Check here for available tutoring opportunities, including days, times, and locations. Take advantage of this free service.
Walker Library
For additional resources for research and continual learning, please learn and use the various online research gateways at MTSU’s Walker Library, and the Walker Library’s Distance Learning site. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by students to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included in course materials.
Career Development Center
Need help understanding what to do with your major, want to gain experience, need professional clothes? The CDC is an on-campus resource that helps you with all these things and more: Visit us at https://www.mtsu.edu/career/
Career Leadership Badge Program
The Career Leadership Badge Program provides students with a road map to getting a job. Follow these practical steps to get the skills you need for work and get a credential in the process. Apply today at https://www.mtsu.edu/career/career-leadership-badge/
Grade Appeals
University Policy 313, Student Grade Appeals, provides an avenue for MTSU students to appeal a final course grade in cases in which the student alleges that unethical or unprofessional actions by the instructor and/or grading inequities improperly impacted the final grade.
Title IX
Students who believe they have been harassed discriminated against or been the victim of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking should contact a Title IX/Deputy Coordinator at 615-898- 2185 or 615-898-2750 for assistance or review MTSU’s Title IX website for resources.
MTSU faculty are concerned about the well-being and development of our students and are legally obligated to share reports of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking with the University’s Title IX coordinator to help ensure students’ safety and welfare. Please refer to MTSU’s Title IX website for contact information and details.
For Students With Special Needs
Middle Tennessee State University is committed to campus access per Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Any student interested in reasonable accommodations can consult the Disability & Access Center (DAC) website and/or contact the DAC for assistance at 615-898-2783 or dacemail@mtsu.edu.
Last Day Of Attendance
At mid-semester, the MTSU Records Office will distribute a list of students enrolled in this class. The instructor will record on the list the last date of attendance for students who have ceased attending but have not officially dropped or withdrawn from the class. The attendance record is to comply with federal financial aid regulations for students receiving aid.
Lottery Scholarship
Do you have a lottery scholarship? To retain the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship eligibility, you must earn a cumulative TELS GPA of 2.75 after 24 and 48 attempted hours and a cumulative TELS GPA of 3.0 thereafter. A grade of C, D, F, FA, or I in this class may negatively impact TELS eligibility.
If you drop this class, withdraw, or if you stop attending this class you may lose eligibility for your lottery scholarship, and you may not be able to regain eligibility at a later time.
For additional Lottery rules, please refer to your Lottery Statement of Understanding form or contact your MT One Stop Enrollment Counselor.
The MT One Stop is now open and located in Room 210 of the Student Services & Admissions Center (SSAC). If you have additional questions about financial aid, registration, tuition billing, and transcripts, please contact your MT One Stop Enrollment Counselor or come by the MT One Stop.
The True Blue Pledge
I am True Blue
As a member of this diverse community, I am a valuable contributor to its progress and success. I am engaged in the life of this community. I am a recipient and a giver. I am a listener and a speaker. I am honest in word and deed. I am committed to reason, not violence. I am a learner now and forever. I am a BLUE RAIDER. True Blue!