Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Web Usability Engineering
Module Code	EE437
School	School of Electronic Engineering
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Barry McMullin Semester 2: Barry McMullin Autumn: Barry McMullin
Module Teacher	Sabine Moebs
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

Users experience the usability of a web site or service before they have committed to using it. As a result, usability is critically important in the design of such systems. The aim of this module is to develop students' knowledge and skills in core client-side web technologies (HTML and CSS); and to expose students to the distinctive problems and solution strategies associated with designing web sites and services to be effectively usable and accessible by the widest variety of target users.

Learning Outcomes

1. Develop web content and services that conform to applicable technical standards, in particular HTML and CSS.
2. Interpret and apply the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
3. Design, carry out, and report on an evaluation of the usability of web sites and services, including accessibility for users with disabilities.
4. Identify the factors, both technical and otherwise, which cause poor usability and accessibility of a web site, and recommend potential solutions.
5. Analyse, plan, manage and complete a technical project, and document and communicate the results effectively and professionally to peers.

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	24	Seminar style presentation of core module topics
Laboratory	12	Practical web development and evaluation exercises, including in-class tests
Moodle discussion	24	Learner forum
Group work	24	Website evaluation, test and remediation project
Independent learning	41	Individual learning: research, reading, practice
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Overview.
Introduction and overview of module. Concept of web usability, and reliance on available web technologies. Client-server web architecture: interaction between servers, clients and users. Role of universal design and accessibility. Content, presentation and interaction technologies. Standards and W3C..

HTML.
HTML as core web content technology. HTML versions and standardisation. Relationship to SGML and XML. Detailed technical features. Authoring tools. Validation. Role of user agent technologies. Accessibility features. Future developments..

CSS.
CSS as core web presentation technology. CSS versions and standardisation. Detailed technical features. Authoring tools. Validation. Role of user agent technologies. Accessibility features. Future developments..

Client side scripting (introduction).
Role of client side scripting. Scripting language versions and standardisation. Role of user agent technologies. Accessibility issues and features. Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX)..

Usability.
Concepts of usability evaluation and testing. Web user behaviour. Design for scanning. Conventions. Navigation. Home pages. Usability evaluation and testing..

Accessibility and Universal Design.
Concepts of accessibility and universal design. Disability and web technologies: opportunities and barriers. Assistive technologies (AT). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Accessibility evaluation and testing..

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Digital production	Standards based website development	30%	Week 6
In Class Test	HTML and CSS Evaluation and Repair	15%	Week 7
In Class Test	Accessibility Evaluation and Repair	15%	Week 12
Project	Website expert evaluation for usability and accessibility	40%	Week 11

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Steve Krug *: 2005, Don't Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2, New Riders, 978-0-321-34475-5
Jakob Nielsen: 2000, Designing Web Usability: The Practice of Simplicity, New Riders Publishing, 1-56205-810-X

Other Resources

6741, website, Dev.Opera, 2008, Web Standards Curriculum, http://dev.opera.com/articles/view/1-introduction-to-the-web-standards-cur/, 6742, ebook (open access), Jack Bellis, 2006, User in Your Face, Usability Institute, http://www.usabilityinstitute.com/resources/userInYourFace/userInYourFace.htm, 6743, ebook (open access), Henry, Shawn Lawton, 2007, Just Ask: Integrating Accessibility Throughout Design, http://www.uiaccess.com/JustAsk/, 6744, ebook (open access), Joe Clark, 2002, Building Accessible Websites, http://joeclark.org/book/, 6745, website, World Wide Web Consortium, 0, W3C, http://www.w3.org/, 6746, website, 0, HTML with Style: Tutorials, http://www.webreference.com/html/tutorials/, 6747, website, Jakob Nielsen, 0, useit.com, http://www.useit.com/,

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