Syllabus
Introduction to UX Tools

Introduction to UX Tools

UXUI-1374

Credit Fall 2020
08/24/2020 - 12/13/2020

Course Information

Section 001
Distance Learning
Th 15:00 - 15:55
DLS DIL
David Correa

Section 001
Laboratory
Th 15:55 - 17:40
DLS DIL
David Correa

Section 002
Distance Learning
T 18:00 - 18:55
DLS DIL
David Correa

Section 002
Laboratory
T 18:55 - 20:40
DLS DIL
David Correa

Office Hours

  • M W
    12:00 - 2:30
    Online
    Office hours held online in Bb Collaborate.
    By Appt.
  • T Th
    1:30 - 3:00
    Online
    Office hours held online in Bb Collaborate.
  • T Th
    8:45pm - 9:45pm
    Online
    Office hours held online in Bb Collaborate.

Course Requirements

Course Description
Instruction in the use of visual design, prototyping and collaboration tools. Also, design principles, and design systems will be explored.
 
Course Prerequisites
N/A
 
Course Rationale/Objectives
Students will establish a foundation of essential skills needed to succeed in all courses offered in the UX Degree program. These skills include developing visual assets, identify visual design and UI standards, learning about universal design principles, and review best practices for effective team collaboration. 
 
What you’ll learn that will help in the workforce:
Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS): In 1989, the U.S. Department of Labor education jointly surveyed U.S. employers to find out the most important skills and competencies needed by workers. The results of that survey identified SCANS (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills). These are skills that employers need the most from their workers. SCANS skills are the predictors of success in the workplace. The following is a list of SCAN competencies identified in this course
 
RESOURCES
1.1 Manages Time
INTERPERSONAL
2.3 Serves Clients/Customers
2.5 Negotiates
2.6 Works with Cultural Diversity
INFORMATION
3.1 Acquires and Evaluates Information
3.2 Organizes and Maintains Information
3.3 Uses Computers to Process Information
SYSTEMS
4.1Understands Systems
4.2 Monitors and Corrects Performance
4.3 Improves and Designs Systems
TECHNOLOGY
5.1 Selects Technology
5.2 Applies Technology to Task
5.3 Maintains and Troubleshoots Technology
BASIC SKILLS
6.1 Reading
6.2 Writing
6.3 Arithmetic
6.4 Mathematics
6.5 Listening
6.6 Speaking
THINKING SKILLS
7.1 Creative Thinking
7.2 Decision Making
7.3 Problem Solving
7.4 Mental Visualization
7.5 Knowing How To Learn
7.6 Reasoning
PERSONAL SKILLS
8.1 Responsibility
8.2 Self-Esteem
8.3 Sociability
8.4 Self-Management
8.5 Integrity/Honesty
 
For expanded definitions of the above listed SCANS, please go to http://www.austincc.edu/mkt/scans.php
 
Online Resources
BlackBoard
Grading
Distribution of research materials
ACC Google Apps
Drive
Calendar
Tools
Sketchbook/Notebook for weekly visual journal – recommended
 
Instructional methodology
The teaching methods in this class are based on professional experience and best practices in the area of UX Design.  These methods might include lecture, demonstration, critiques in group and one-on-one settings, group activities, and student presentations.
 
Grading
If any of these projects or grades change, I will notify you of those changes before we continue with the project. Grades will be computed on a 100 point scale. Projects along with attendance, participation and presentation contribute to your final grade for the class.
 
Ongoing // Exercises & quizzes, communications, group participation // 20%
Week 2-4 // Tools discovery project // 15%
Week 5-7 // UI Design project (Sketch) // 15%
Week 8-10 // Design System project (Illustrator) // 15%
Week 11-13 // Prototyping tools workflow project // 15%
Week 14-16 // Design and Collaboration Project // 20%
 
Assignments
Assignment 1: Tools discovery project.
Assignment 2: UI Design project (Sketch).
Assignment 3: Design System project (Illustrator).
Assignment 4: Prototyping tools workflow project.
Assignment 5: Design and Collaboration Project.
 
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D (not passing)
59 or below = F (not passing)
 
Participation
20% grade for participation: students must engage with the instructor, fellow students, and speak knowledgeably/intelligently about projects. You must be prepared by doing the assigned reading and research. Be prepared to get up and participate in the playback of each assignment on Due Day.
Participate in critiques, give specific, intelligent, and relevant feedback.
 
Late assignment: 10% off per day late.
 
Assignment Grading Rubric
What is a Rubric? “A rubric is a scoring tool that explicitly represents the performance expectations for an assignment or piece of work. A rubric divides the assigned work into component parts and provides clear descriptions of the characteristics of the work associated with each component, at varying levels of mastery.” The rubrics that will be used for grading are built around the Competencies and Learning Objectives listed above. Each of the projects will address a set of skills/objectives. Assignments together are 80% of the overall grade.
 
Course Policies Official college policy is italicized. 
 
Student standards of conduct - Acceptable standards of conduct include behavior that is civil, courteous, and respectful of all members of the campus community, their property, and the property of the college; promotes mutual respect, equality, and safety of its members and opposes those acts that harass. intimidate, or haze its members. 
 
Illegal acts include, but not limited to the possession or use of firearms, explosives, or other weapons; gambling; unlawful possession, use, and distribution of narcotics; assault or stalking. ACC’s policy on student standards and code of conduct can be found here in the current student handbook: www.austincc.edu/handbook
 
Classroom interaction
Throughout the course of the semester, you will be interacting with me, fellow students and outside professionals in critiques and group discussion. You will be both giving and receiving feedback on your work. These critiques will be conducted in various ways, from one-on-one interactions to large group environments. In all instances, classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. I expect everyone to treat one another with understanding, dignity, and respect. 
 
I will not tolerate disruptive behavior, which may include:
-Persistent speaking without permission 
-Side conversations
-Engaging in activities not related to the class 
-Ringing cell phones or using a cell phone to talk or send text messages
-Using PDAs or laptop computers in the classroom for non-course related purposes
-Sleeping in class 
-Eating/drinking in class without permission 
-Monopolizing class discussion, refusing to defer to the instructor, or listen to others; persisting when the instructor has indicated that the student’s remarks are off topic and it is time to move on
-Reacting angrily or defensively to critique from guests, instructors, or classmates
-Sighing, rolling eyes, or muttering when other people are talking
-Refusing to participate in group activities such as group or peer-to-peer critiques
-Chronically entering late/leaving early, moving about the classroom
-Filming, photographing, or taping the class without the instructor’s prior permission
-Disputing authority and arguing with faculty and other students 
-Yelling, arguing, swearing, bullying, or other harassing or intimidating behavior
-Physically or verbally abusive conduct
-Failure to adhere to the instructor’s rules or instructions
-Vulgar or obscene language, slurs, or other forms of intimidation
-Showing up to class under the influence of alcohol/drugs
-Threats of any kind 
-Destruction of property 
-Any behavior that puts the health or safety of the instructor or other students in the classroom in jeopardy
 
If you engage in disruptive behavior, I may file a Student Discipline Report and refer you to the Dean of Student Services. The Dean will investigate the case, and based on the investigation, s/he may put sanctions into place, including but not limited to withdrawing you from the class.
 
If the behavior is severe, I will call Campus Police, who may immediately refer you to the Dean of Student Services. 
 
Attendance and participation
Regular and punctual class and laboratory attendance are expected of all students.  If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class. If you receive financial aid, your attendance must be certified in order to maintain your financial aid eligibility.
 
Absences 
If for any reason you’re unable to come to class, you will be counted as absent. You are allowed 3 absences. I make no distinction between an excused or unexcused absence, so use your absences meaningfully and sparingly. I will count you absent if you:
are not in class
leave the class extremely early
disappear in the middle of the class for a significant length of time
get to class extremely late
 
At your fourth absence, I will drop your course grade by a letter grade. I will drop your grade a further letter grade for each subsequent absence thereafter. 
 
Arriving late
Don’t be late. It’s unprofessional to keep others waiting. A continual pattern of late attendance will count against your final grade.
 
Leaving early
If you must leave class early, please make arrangements with me ahead of time, so you'll know what material we'll be covering for the rest of the class period. Leaving class early will count as an absence.
 
Withdrawal Policy - It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.
 
Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate, for that course.
 
State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. 
 
Dropping or withdrawing from a course can have serious consequences that affect your financial aid, veterans’ benefits, international student status. Details regarding this policy and others can be found in the ACC college catalog.
 
Missed or late work - Assignments are due at the beginning of class periods. If you turn an assignment in after that, your project is late. I will lower a project one letter grade for each class day that it is late. 
 
Incomplete - An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester. 
 
If you are unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course due to extraordinary circumstances—such as illness or death in the family—I may grant an “incomplete.” Generally, to receive a grade of I, you must have completed all examinations and assignments to date, be passing, and have personal circumstances that prevent you from completing the course. Finally, these circumstances must have occurred after the deadline to withdraw with a grade of W.
 
Academic Misconduct - Academic misconduct refers to any activity that compromises academic integrity or subverts the educational process, including but not limited to the following: Violation of rules contained in the course syllabus; Violation of College rules regarding the use of academic facilities, including labs and testing centers; Using or providing unauthorized information during exams; Using or providing unauthorized materials or devices during exams; Using or providing unauthorized assistance in labs, on field work, in scholarship, or on a course assignment; Submitting plagiarized work for an academic assignment or requirement; Falsification, fabrication, or dishonesty in creating or reporting laboratory or research results; Falsification, fabrication, or dishonesty in creating any assignment; Serving as, or enlisting the assistance of, a substitute for a student in any assignment, exam or course requirement; Alteration of grades in an effort to change the earned or assigned grade or credit; Alteration or unauthorized use of academic records or forms; Engaging in activities that unfairly place other students at a disadvantage, such as taking, hiding, or altering resource materials.
 
Copyright – The software programs used in the labs are licensed to the college, which is the original purchaser. Thus students cannot duplicate the software for their personal use. Do not use college equipment to duplicate software for other students or to produce work-for-profit.
 
Do not download, copy or scan copyrighted material for use in your projects unless it meets the Fair Use guidelines below and the copyright holder is properly credited.
 
Fair Use is an important element of U.S. copyright law that allows for the use of copyrighted work without asking permission of the copyright holder, especially when the copyrighted work is used for criticism, scholarship, and education. Under the Fair Use guidelines students may:
Incorporate portions of copyrighted materials when producing a project for a specific course; and
Perform and display their own projects and use them in their portfolio or use the project for job interviews or as supporting materials for application to other schools.
 
For more information on Fair Use see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use
 
Students Rights and Responsibilities - Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures.
 
Privacy policy The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protect the confidentiality of your educational records. Grades cannot be given over the phone, posted over non-ACC e-mail, or through a fellow student.
 
Statement on Students with Disabilities - Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through Student Accessibility Services & Assistive Technology (SAS).   Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise, the provision of accommodations may be delayed.
   
Students who have received approval for accommodations from SAS for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from SAS before accommodations will be provided. Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student.  
 
Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations.    
 
Additional information about Students Accessibility Services is available at www.austincc.edu/support-and-services
 
Safety Statement - Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at www.austincc.edu/ehs
 
Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at www.austincc.edu/emergency/
Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.
 
Official Communications - The college uses ACCmail as the preferred means of communicating with students for most circumstances. You are assigned a personal ACCmail account that can be accessed through any web-based browser. It is your responsibility to receive and read email communications. Communications are considered properly delivered when they are sent through ACCmail. The college periodically mails items to the physical address listed on your student record. It is your responsibility to keep the address updated to ensure proper delivery. Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at www.austincc.edu/accmail/
 
As your instructor, I will email you only at your ACC account. Likewise, you should use your ACC account when communicating with instructors and staff. 
 
For this course, I will:
answer emails by 5:00pm of each day. If I get your email after 5:00pm you will get a response on or before 5:00pm of the following day. 
not normally answer emails over the weekend from 5:00pm Friday to 8:00am Monday.
only answer questions from your ACC email account to mine; or from the official class blog.
 
Cell phone policy - Please silence your phone during scheduled class times. Please do not check your phone or text during class time; you may check messages during your break. 
 
Concealed Handgun Policy - The Austin Community College District concealed handgun policy ensures compliance with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code (also known as the Campus Carry Law), while maintaining ACC’s commitment to provide a safe environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Beginning August 1, 2017, individuals who are licensed to carry (LTC) may do so on campus premises except in locations and at activities prohibited by state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy. It is the responsibility of license holders to conceal their handguns at all times. Persons who see a handgun on campus are asked to contact the ACC Police Department by dialing 222 from a campus phone or 512-223-7999. 
 
Student and Instructional Services
ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services. Information on these services and support systems is available at: www.austincc.edu/support

Links to many student services and other information can be found at: www.austincc.edu/current/
 
ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course to be 
tutored. The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found at: 
www.austincc.edu/tutor
 
For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at 
any ACC Learning Lab.
 
Calendar
Current course calendar will be distributed in class.
 
Visual Communications Open Lab Policy
What is Open Lab? When does it take place?
Open labs are available during various time slots in VisCom classrooms and provide additional practice time for students to work on assignments. Open lab hours and available software listed here: viscom.austincc.edu/lab-info. Please note: not all software is provided in all open labs.
 
Open lab locations:
SAC: 1210, 1211, 1212 
NRG Building 4000: 4206, 4262, 4265, 4269
 
Highland Center in the ACCelerator Learning Lab: There are Mac computers with the CC2017 software in the ACCelerator. If you go, when you sign into the lab, ask where the VisCom Macs are — it's a big lab!
 
Tutoring is available in some labs. Please check the schedule for subject and availability.
 
Sign in and out of the lab.
Sign in sheets are by the door — please use them each time you come to lab.
 
Lab rules:
Know the Open Lab hours (posted on all classroom doors and web site).
Please bring a flash drive or external hard drive to class so you can save all of your work to it. 
Note: All media are scanned in accordance with ACC policy.
Do not view or download inappropriate material. VisCom Tech Support Staff tracks internet use.
 
Top tips for easier work in the lab:
Before working on a file, drag it from a flash drive to the desktop.
If you would like to bring your own fonts for your project, load them into the Universal Type Client. If you need help, ask VisCom Tech Support staff.
If you need help with the computers, scanners, printers, or flash drives, ask VisCom Tech Support staff.
 
Using printers and scanners:
Limit your time with printers and scanners. Take turns.
For draft prints, use black-and-white printers only.
For final prints, you may use the color printer.
Ask VisCom Tech Support staff if you need to print on any special paper.
Please do not try to fix paper jams yourself. Contact VisCom Tech Support Staff.
 
Treat the lab like a learning space:
Keep food and drink away from the computers. 
Do not plug personal equipment (such as laptops) into Ethernet ports.
This lab is only for Visual Communication class assignments; please don’t use it for other classes, personal, or outside work.
Since this is an open lab, computers are first-come first-served. 
Be sure to logout before you leave the lab.
 
Be kind and considerate:
Silence cell phones and take phone calls in the hallways.
If you listen to music, use headphones or earbuds.
If you argue, talk loudly, call people names, refuse to follow faculty and staff requests, or demand exceptions to these rules, you will be asked to leave.

Readings

Required Textbooks and/or PDF’s
- Sketch - Current version
  Design the User Interface of Websites & Apps
  Noble Desktop, ISBN: 978-1-941333-28-0
 
Recommended for beginning design students with little to no experience.
- Adobe Creative Cloud 2018: Intro to InDesign, Photoshop & Illustrator Book
  Learn the Essentials of Three Key Adobe Apps
  Noble Desktop, ISBN: 978-1-941333-49-5
 
Links to additional resources available in the Bb course.

Course Subjects

Competency 1: Survey image editing tools used in UX design
Competency 2: Develop essential design skills with Illustrator and Photoshop
Competency 3: Develop essential design skills with Sketch
Competency 4: Integrate visual assets with UX prototyping tools in real-time
Competency 5: Demonstrate design and collaboration skills with a variety of UX Tools
Ongoing: Exercises & quizzes, communications, group participation.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

What you’ll learn to do by the end of this course:
- Discover the tools that are used in the industry to create visual assets for prototyping, and for collaboration.
- Learn about Design Systems and how they focus on the concepts and experiences of a design.
- Learn techniques for building UI elements.
- Create prototypes with industry standard tools.
- Learn the tools used in the industry for effective team collaboration.
 
What you’ll learn to do by the end of this discipline:
- Produce prototypes for software applications using industry standard methods, tools, and techniques.
- Apply a user-centered design process in the creation of software applications.
- Design and develop responsive layouts for multi-device, and multi-channel applications.
- Demonstrate proficiency in team collaboration.
- Demonstrate professionalism and proficiency, in the presentation, design, and delivery of a UX portfolio.