Course syllabus for Responsible interaction design: Theory and practice

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameAnsvarsfull interaktiondesign: teori och praktik
  • CodeDAT585
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPIDE
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studySoftware Engineering
  • DepartmentCOMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 23125
  • Maximum participants45
  • Minimum participants8
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0123 Laboratory 4 c
Grading: UG		0 c0 c4 c0 c0 c0 c
0223 Project 3.5 c
Grading: UG		0 c0 c3.5 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Aim

The purpose of this course is to give interaction design professionals the knowledge, skills and conviction to act ethically responsibly in their development of interactive systems, and the ideas underpinning interaction design.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Knowledge and understanding
  • describe the most common and important ethical frameworks relevant for technology and society in general, and interaction design specifically
  • describe historical trends and historically significant cases related to ethics in interaction design
  • describe methods to explore future implications of technological change, such as design fiction and speculative design
  • describe issues concerning design exclusion and accessibility
  • describe issues and opportunities concerning social and environmental sustainability, both from a design and natural science perspective
Skills and abilities
  • sketch an interactive system that takes into account and problematize design issues related to ethical aspects, such as sustainability, accessibility, equality and privacy
  • debate, listen to and argue for different aspects of a design, in relation to ethical issues
  • analyze existing digital applications and identify and discuss ethical dilemmas, implications and alternative solutions
  • apply tools to enable and facilitate dialogue in a multi-stakeholder setting, including methods for collaboration and participatory problem-solving, co-creation, and active listening
Judgement and approach
  • evaluate the need of different user groups, in order to make informed design decisions
  • balance care for the individual, the society and the environment, in order to make informed design decisions
  • express an own individual stance and professional responsibilities in ethical issues concerning technology in general and interaction design specifically

Content

This course focus on exploring theory and practice concerning ethical considerations related to interaction design, covering past, present, and future of design ethical dilemmas. The overarching goal of the course is to support students to take an ethical stand as an interaction designer and ways to take a stand against unethical methods in design.

The content of the course will include for example:

  • Critical analysis and critical practice
  • Ethics in data, AI and games
  • Dark design patterns, gamification and nudging
  • Inclusive design and accessibility
  • Speculative design and design fiction
  • Social and environmental sustainability, long term responsibility

Organisation

The course has two tracks that run in parallel: a theoretical track with lectures, literature and seminars, and a practical track with group exercises and workshops. Some of the exercises and workshops are role playing activities. The latter half of the course have an individual project.

Literature

Course literature will be announced the latest 8 weeks prior to the start of the course. The course literature will consist of freely available book chapters from a collection of books, as well as research articles.

Examination including compulsory elements

The fulfillment of learning objectives is examined in the form of an individual project, as well as active participation in exercises and seminars. The project and the exercises involve sketching interactive digital applications, and written and verbal reflection on ethical implications.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.