Course coordinator
Mr Steven Scott
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Elec Engineering & Comp Science School
This course explores the complexities of Human-computer Interaction (HCI) at an advanced level, focusing on the adaptation and application of existing theories and methods to suit today’s world – a world of rapidly emerging technologies and a rapidly evolving role of technology in people’s lives and in society. This course will help you understand these changes and prepare you to think about technology in new ways that consider everyone's needs and the broader impact on society. This exploration goes beyond traditional boundaries to include multidisciplinary perspectives on HCI and critical examinations of HCI practices and research.
This 2-unit course offers a deep dive into Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), by introducing systems thinking in HCI. You will develop advanced skills in applying HCI theories, principles, and methods to analyse diverse user needs, evaluate technologies, and design human-centered solutions for complex, real-world problems, understanding how interconnected elements shape technological impacts.
You will learn through:
- Lectures & Guest Lectures: Explore contemporary and emerging HCI issues, including insights from guest experts in the field.
- Applied Classes: Engage in hands-on sessions that blend theoretical concepts with practical application. Activities include group collaboration work and training in digital tools like NVIVO and Google Colab.
- Completing Assessment: Assessments are designed as integral learning activities, challenging you to critically apply concepts and synthesise knowledge to master advanced HCI skills.
- Independent Study: Deepen your understanding through additional course readings, working on assessments, and personal study.
Assessments:
- A1 Systems Map (Individual): A short assessment mapping out complex technological systems.
- A2 Project (Group): This core project involves multidisciplinary teams undertaking a comprehensive design and evaluation of a technology solution for a complex HCI problem. You will apply systems thinking throughout the design and evaluation process to understand interconnected elements and broader societal impacts.
- A3 Design Fiction Paper (Individual): An individual paper exploring future HCI possibilities through speculative design.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped to conduct advanced user research, critically apply HCI theories and methodologies, and evaluate complex technological solutions with a deep understanding of systems thinking. You will develop practical skills in design, evaluation, and multidisciplinary collaboration, enabling you to create human-centered products that thoughtfully address broader societal impacts, including ethics, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity, and navigate the transformative landscape of emerging technologies like Generative AI.
Course requirements
Assumed background
The pre-requisite for DECO6500 is DECO2500 - Human-Computer Interaction (or equivalent).
Masters students who have not completed a course on HCI as part of their Bachelor degree, or who do not have industry experience in the area, should complete DECO7250 prior to attempting this course.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
DECO2500 or DECO7250
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
COMP4501 or COMP7501 or DECO7450 or DECO4500
Course contact
Course coordinator
Dr Peter Worthy
Course staff
Lecturer
Mr Steven Scott
Dr Peter Worthy
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
In this course, we aim to
1. Provide students with a deeper understanding of HCI theories and methods
2. Equip students with the skills to apply these theories and methods both conceptually and in practice to address the challenges and opportunities presented by new and emerging technologies.
3. Introduce students to the multidisciplinary nature of HCI to inspire innovation and critical thinking.
4. Equip students with hands-on experience working in a multi-disciplinary studio-based environment.
5. Enhance students ability to critically assess HCI designs and strategies to deepen student’s understanding of effective HCI practice and the complexities involved in creating technology that is both functional and supportive of human needs and values.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Analyse and interpret comprehensive data on people's needs, values, and behaviours within different contexts of use, applying advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods to effectively inform design decisions.
LO2.
Integrate research findings and HCI theories and principles to support the design and creation of effective technology solutions, synthesising complex information to address real-world problems effectively.
LO3.
Critically apply and evaluate HCI theories and methodologies in designing and evaluating technologies throughout an iterative design process, demonstrating a deep understanding of how theoretical concepts are applied in practical scenarios.
LO4.
Critically examine new and emerging technologies to identify opportunities and challenges for HCI, analysing the implications of these technologies on human experience, needs and values.
LO5.
Critically evaluate the broader impacts of technologies on society, considering them as complex systems with interconnected elements, including ethics, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity, demonstrating an understanding of the social responsibilities of HCI practitioners.
LO6.
Collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team, applying advanced methods and techniques for teamwork, including the use of digital tools and platforms, and critically evaluate and resolve conflicts to enhance team performance.
LO7.
Critically apply principles of responsible GenAI and Machine Translation (MT) use in academic and design workflows, demonstrating ethical engagement, transparency, and clear evidence of personal intellectual agency in all outputs.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | A1 Systems Map (Individual) | 1 |
20/08/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
A2 Project (Group)
|
3 |
8/10/2025 2:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique, Presentation |
A3 Design Fiction/Speculative Design (Individual)
|
3 |
A3.1 Critical Discussion will take place in your allocated applied class in Week 12. 20/10/2025 A3.2 Design Fiction/Speculative Design is due on 12/11/2025 2:00 pm |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
A1 Systems Map (Individual)
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 1
- Due date
20/08/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
This assessment requires you to analyse a complex technological system by mapping its interconnected elements, which include technical components, human actors, organisational structures, and social or environmental contexts. The output will be an interactive online systems map, visually representing these diverse components and their relationships. Your responsible use of GenAI throughout the process of creating this map, including transparent acknowledgment and critical evaluation of AI-generated content, will be an integral part of this submission.
Use of GenAI/MT
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference and/or acknowledge any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference and/or acknowledge generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
This course has specific requirements for acknowledging generative AI or MT use in this course. Please refer to the task sheet for this assessment item for more details on these requirements.
Submission guidelines
The Systems Map will be created as a website using HTML, CSS and JavaScript along with some pre-defined libraries and frameworks. To submit this you will need to:
- Compress/Zip all files for your website
- Upload your compressed/zip file to Blackboard.
Detailed instructions for submission will be provided in the task sheet for this assessment item, also available in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Marked assignments with feedback will be released to students within 14 days
Late submission
A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.
A2 Project (Group)
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 3
- Due date
8/10/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
This core collaborative project involves multidisciplinary teams undertaking a comprehensive design and evaluation of a technology solution for a complex HCI problem. You will apply systems thinking throughout the process to understand interconnected elements and broader societal impacts. Your work will involve analysing provided user research data (using both qualitative and quantitative methods), designing a system and producing a prototype, evaluating the system using a range of methods, and analysing the evaluation outcomes. Your responsible use of GenAI throughout the project, and reflection process, including transparent acknowledgment and critical evaluation of AI-generated content, will be an integral part of this submission.
Use of GenAI/MT
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference and/or acknowledge any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference and/or acknowledge generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
This course has specific requirements for acknowledging generative AI or MT use in this course. Please refer to the task sheet for this assessment item for more details on these requirements.
Submission guidelines
The Project outputs will be submitted to Blackboard. Further information about submission will be available in the task sheet for this assessment item (also available in Blackboard).
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.
A3 Design Fiction/Speculative Design (Individual)
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Presentation
- Weight
- 3
- Due date
A3.1 Critical Discussion will take place in your allocated applied class in Week 12. 20/10/2025
A3.2 Design Fiction/Speculative Design is due on 12/11/2025 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Secure.
Task description
This assessment challenges you to envision future Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) scenarios through the creation of a design fiction. It is designed in two sequential elements:
A3.1: Critical Discussion (Individual & Secure) This element requires you to engage in a critical discussion about the topic you intend to explore in your final design fiction. This secure assessment will serve as a foundational check of your understanding and initial critical insights into your chosen future HCI domain, drawing directly upon findings and insights from your A2 Project to provide rationale for the need for change or critique of existing HCI conceptualisations. It provides an opportunity for you to articulate your initial thoughts, justify your topic selection, and receive formative feedback to guide the development of your subsequent design fiction. This discussion is crucial for demonstrating your personal intellectual agency and critical engagement, particularly in relation to the responsible use of GenAI.
Use of GenAI/MT in A3.1
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
A3.2: Design Fiction (Individual)
Building on the insights and feedback from your critical discussion, you will create a comprehensive Design Fiction Report. This report will present a speculative design artifact or system within a vividly described future world, using findings and insights from your A2 Project as key rationale for both critiquing existing HCI theories, principles, or methods, and for proposing pathways to a more desirable future. Through this narrative, you will implicitly and explicitly critique existing HCI theories, principles, or methods that might lead to undesirable futures, and then propose what HCI should be doing to foster a more desirable one. Your responsible use of GenAI throughout the ideation, narrative development, and reflection process, including transparent acknowledgment and critical evaluation of AI-generated content, will be an integral part of this submission.
Use of GenAI/MT in A3.2
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference and/or acknowledge any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference and/or acknowledge generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
This course has specific requirements for acknowledging generative AI or MT use in this course. Please refer to the task sheet for this assessment item for more details on these requirements.
Hurdle requirements
The A3.1 Critical Discussion element of this assessment is a hurdle requirement, meaning that you must pass the critical discussion to pass the course as a whole. Failure to meet the requirements of the A3.1 Critical Discussion element will result in a capped course grade of Marginal Fail (3), regardless of your performance in other assessment items.Submission guidelines
A3.1 Critical Discussion
Critical Discussions are in-person and will take place during your allocated applied class in Week 12.
A3.2 Design Fiction/Speculative Design
The Design Fiction/Speculative Design will be submitted as a paper to Turnitin via a link available in Blackboard,
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
A3.1 Critical Discussion
Students with an approved extension will be required to complete their critical discussion during their allocated applied class in Week 13.
Late submission
A3.1 Critical Discussion
Late submission of the Critical Discussion is not accepted, as these are oral sessions scheduled with multiple markers during allocated applied class times. The reviews require the presence of both the student and the teaching team to provide personalised feedback and ensure the integrity of the assessment process.
A3.2 Design Fiction/Speculative Design
A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from the time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a grade of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Some engagement with the assessment tasks; however has failed to demonstrate any knowledge or understanding of the underlying concepts in HCI or has failed to demonstrate an ability to apply those concepts in practice. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates clear deficiencies in understanding of the concepts fundamental to HCI and/or ability to apply these concepts; presents incomplete or unsupported arguments; communicates information or ideas that are frequently incomplete or confusing and gives little attention to the conventions of the discipline. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Demonstrates limited understanding of the concepts fundamental to HCI and/or ability to apply these concepts; presents undeveloped or inappropriate or not fully supported arguments; communicates information or ideas with lack of clarity and inconsistent adherence to the conventions of the discipline. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates sound understanding of concepts fundamental to HCI and ability to apply, critically appraise and, where necessary, extend or adapt these concepts; develops routine arguments or decisions and provides acceptable justification; communicates information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates substantial understanding of concepts fundamental to HCI and ability to apply, critically appraise and, where necessary, extend or adapt these concepts; develops convincing arguments or decisions and provides coherent justification; communicates information and ideas fluently in terms of the conventions of the discipline. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates advanced understanding of concepts fundamental to HCI and ability to apply, critically appraise and, where necessary, extend or adapt these concepts; develops advanced and original arguments or decisions and provides advanced justification; communicates information and ideas at an advanced level in terms of the conventions of the discipline. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates expert understanding of concepts fundamental to HCI and ability to apply, critically appraise and, where necessary, extend or adapt these concepts; develops expert and original arguments or decisions and provides expert justification; communicates information and ideas at an expert level in terms of the conventions of the discipline. |
Additional course grading information
Qualitative Grading
Grades for assessment during the semester will identify your work as being of a particular standard from the following list:
- No assessable work received (X) - applies to late or non-submission of assessment items
- Low Fail / No Academic Merit (1)
- Fail (2)
- Marginal Fail (3)
- Pass (4)
- Credit (5)
- Distinction (6)
- High Distinction (7)
These grades map directly to the standard UQ Grade descriptorsﾠ(from 3.10.02 Assessment, Appendix 7.1 Grading System). It is recommended that you read the descriptors and example criteria that are associated with each of the UQ grade standards. Note, that percentages or numerical marksﾠare not required in grading assessment or for calculatingﾠgrade cutoffs. Percentage cutoffsﾠare primarily employed in courses that utilise quantitative (numerical based) methods for marking.ﾠ
The final grade for the course will be initially constructed from the individual grades according to assessment weightings. It will then be reviewed & moderated based on overall performance across the course.
Calculation of final grades for course
Final grades will be calculated as a weighted average of a student’s assessment grades, using the same formula as used for calculating a student’s GPA (https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/final-grades-and-gpas). In this case, U equals the weighting for that particular assessment item, and G equal to the grade for the assessment item.
Example 1:
If a student receives the following grades:
- Systems Map: Grade of 4 at weighting of 1
- Project: Grade of 5 at weighting of 3
- Design Fiction/Speculative Design: Grade of 6 at weighting of 3
The final grade will be calculated as:
(4x1)+(5x3)+(6x3) / (1+3+3)
= 37/7
= 5.3
Grade = Credit (5)
Calculation of grades for individual assessment items
The weighted average approach will also be taken for determining the grade for each assessment item taking into account the grade and weighting for each criteria item.
Final Grade Moderation
The final grade for the course will be initially constructed from the individual grades according to assessment weightings. It will then be reviewed & moderated based on overall performance across the course. The course coordinator reserves the right to moderate grades.
Hurdles in this course
There is one hurdle in this course attached to A3.1 Design Fiction/Speculative Design - Critical Discussion.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.
If you receive an overall grade of 3 in this course, then you will only be eligible for supplementary assessment if you have achieved at least a 4 (PASS) on the A2 Project (Group) assessment item. Due to the design and development aspects of this team-based project over time and the use of the outputs from the A2 Project in the A3 Design Fiction/Speculative Design (Individual) assessment item, supplementary assessment will not be available to students who receive a failing grade on the A2 Project assessment item (Approved by EAIT AD-A).
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Weekly Lecture Weekly lectures that will include explanation of key concepts and methods as well as presenters from outside of the teaching team |
Applied Class |
Weekly Applied Class Each week there is one applied class (3 hours). These hands-on sessions are designed to bridge theoretical Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) concepts with practical application. They serve as multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary spaces for collaboration, allowing you to work on your assessment tasks with peers from diverse academic backgrounds. You will engage in collaborative activities, conduct user research, develop prototypes, and receive training in digital tools such as NVIVO and Google Colab, directly applying HCI concepts to real-world scenarios and developing practical skills. |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: