Comments on: In Response to Kevin http://josh.ev9.org/weblog/archives/438 Interaction Design, User Experience, and the World at Large Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:38:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Marty http://josh.ev9.org/weblog/archives/438/comment-page-1#comment-4030 Marty Fri, 12 Jan 2007 22:40:03 +0000 http://josh.ev9.org/weblog/archives/438#comment-4030 This is a wonderful note, Josh. I decided to read PlanetInformatics today because I just got the reviews on my HCI Design I class, and frankly, it was a disappointment. Yes, there were the students who said that the course was life-changing and the best course that they ever had, etc., but there were a number of students who hated the course and thought it was a big waste of time (I didn't tell them anything!). One graduate student suggested that I find a new career. One problem was that we didn't have the Thursday night classes (because I needed to teach on Monday and Wednesday nights and I just couldn't ask the students to give up 3 nights per week). I think they missed something important, including a place to blow off steam, ask questions, etc. This spring semester I'm making up the Thursday night classes (but it will be on Wednesday night), but it seems that only half of the people are showing up. Sigh. Also this semester I'm working with a graduate student to revamp the course, not entirely of course, but to tighten it up and respond to some of the criticisms. As I start I thought about the goals for my course. I have four: 1) Change from academic/school thinking (or problem solving) to design thinking/problem solving. 2) Big concept learning (the 7 themes) rather than lots of rules and guidelines. 3) Learning to work and play on teams. Team decision making. Getting things done as a team vs. as an individual. 4) Learning to give and take critiques. Working in a "critique culture." Any thoughts on the course from any of you would be most welcomed. I miss all of you! Marty This is a wonderful note, Josh. I decided to read PlanetInformatics today because I just got the reviews on my HCI Design I class, and frankly, it was a disappointment. Yes, there were the students who said that the course was life-changing and the best course that they ever had, etc., but there were a number of students who hated the course and thought it was a big waste of time (I didn’t tell them anything!). One graduate student suggested that I find a new career.

One problem was that we didn’t have the Thursday night classes (because I needed to teach on Monday and Wednesday nights and I just couldn’t ask the students to give up 3 nights per week). I think they missed something important, including a place to blow off steam, ask questions, etc.

This spring semester I’m making up the Thursday night classes (but it will be on Wednesday night), but it seems that only half of the people are showing up. Sigh.

Also this semester I’m working with a graduate student to revamp the course, not entirely of course, but to tighten it up and respond to some of the criticisms. As I start I thought about the goals for my course. I have four:

1) Change from academic/school thinking (or problem solving) to design thinking/problem solving.

2) Big concept learning (the 7 themes) rather than lots of rules and guidelines.

3) Learning to work and play on teams. Team decision making. Getting things done as a team vs. as an individual.

4) Learning to give and take critiques. Working in a “critique culture.”

Any thoughts on the course from any of you would be most welcomed.

I miss all of you!

Marty

]]> By: Kristy http://josh.ev9.org/weblog/archives/438/comment-page-1#comment-3917 Kristy Wed, 10 Jan 2007 05:19:50 +0000 http://josh.ev9.org/weblog/archives/438#comment-3917 I don't think you have to look at it as giving up what you learn at IU to get a job. I mean sure you don't really get to pick the content of your projects... but in the end you are always learning. We have a dedicated usability team and IA team... yet I still have to fight to get us incorporated into projects... through doing this I have spend a ton of time researching what the real 'ROI' of HCID is etc. So that when some pig headed big wig says we are worthless we can turn around and say 'actually, no'... I think I have spent just as much time here learning as you do teaching... I like it. I don’t think you have to look at it as giving up what you learn at IU to get a job. I mean sure you don’t really get to pick the content of your projects… but in the end you are always learning. We have a dedicated usability team and IA team… yet I still have to fight to get us incorporated into projects… through doing this I have spend a ton of time researching what the real ‘ROI’ of HCID is etc. So that when some pig headed big wig says we are worthless we can turn around and say ‘actually, no’… I think I have spent just as much time here learning as you do teaching… I like it.

]]> By: Kevin Makice http://josh.ev9.org/weblog/archives/438/comment-page-1#comment-1470 Kevin Makice Sat, 16 Dec 2006 01:46:37 +0000 http://josh.ev9.org/weblog/archives/438#comment-1470 Not overkill at all. I think this is an important conversation to have, and I thank you for sharing in such detail. Matt loves his job. (I don't get that same vibe from Apurva, but maybe I'm biased because he got it while interviewing over at the Business school.) He just observed that the things we did on projects weren't the things he was doing now. As one of the scenarios for my future has me going back into industry, I'm a bit apprehensive that I'll have to give up the stuff I'm doing and learning here in order to get a job. I think this whole discussion about <a href="http://www.blogschmog.net/blog/?p=667" rel="nofollow">design language</a> resonated a lot with this idea of bringing HCI to the workplace. It's the same basic issue of gaps and communication. You are on an important journey, and it will be interesting to read about it here. Not overkill at all. I think this is an important conversation to have, and I thank you for sharing in such detail.

Matt loves his job. (I don’t get that same vibe from Apurva, but maybe I’m biased because he got it while interviewing over at the Business school.) He just observed that the things we did on projects weren’t the things he was doing now. As one of the scenarios for my future has me going back into industry, I’m a bit apprehensive that I’ll have to give up the stuff I’m doing and learning here in order to get a job.

I think this whole discussion about design language resonated a lot with this idea of bringing HCI to the workplace. It’s the same basic issue of gaps and communication. You are on an important journey, and it will be interesting to read about it here.

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