Overview I taught Information Retrieval, Hypermedia and the Web from 2001-2003, covering web technologies, information systems, and retrieval techniques to 3rd year undergraduate students. This was during the early growth phase of the Web, making it a particularly exciting time to teach these topics. Historical Context The Early 2000s Web: Google recently emerged (1998) Web 2.0 concepts developing Social networking beginning (Friendster 2002) Semantic Web initiatives launching Broadband becoming widespread Mobile web in infancy Teaching web technologies during this era meant covering rapidly evolving concepts and helping students understand both current practice and future directions.

Featured image: Post-its and UX Planning - Photo by UX Indonesia on Unsplash Course Description In this unit, you will come to understand User Experience (UX) as it relates to software engineering and agile practices. The unit is a very high overview (there is no coding, maths, or other aspects you may feel comfortable with) intended to enable you as a Software Engineer to discuss development with UX professionals, or to help you create a bridge between the users and the engineering team.

Overview I co-taught Software Engineering I from 2005-2008, contributing to a team-taught course that introduced 2nd year students to software engineering principles, processes, and practices. Teaching Team The course was delivered by a collaborative team: S Embury - Requirements engineering R Stevens - Design methodologies J Sargeant - Testing and quality assurance B Warboys - Process models S Harper - User-centred design and HCI aspects Course Content Core Topics Software Development Processes:

Overview I taught Fundamentals of Databases as the sole lecturer for six years (2003-2009), delivering core database concepts to cohorts of 130-240 second-year students. The course covered relational database theory, SQL, database design, and transaction management. Evaluation Scores The unit consistently received strong evaluation scores, particularly outperforming the university average in terms of quality: Year Quality Satisfaction 2008/09 7.15 6.49 2007/08 8.16 7.11 2006/07 7.72 7.19 2005/06 7.80 6.80 2004/05 7.

UoM Logo I’ve been banging on about this HCI programme for a year or so now. It has been looking increasingly like it will happen and this week we got a glowing report from our external programme examiner (from industry, actually) which seals the deal. So we now have a programme taking entries including the units that you can take and we even have 4 flavours; BSc and MEng both with Industrial Experience options meaning year long placements with vetted companies!

When you’re part of a hard core Engineering School it’s sometimes difficult to convince your fellows of the importance of Teaching HCI to Undergraduates. However, here at Manchester we’ve been given the go ahead to try and put together a full Undergraduate Programme in HCI - but we need your help to convince our faculty that here is a desire for HCI teaching at an undergraduate level. That’s where you come in…

I’m writing a final year undergraduate unit on Human Factors - it will be the first that that they have seen being that we are a hardcore engineering School - and I’d like your thoughts! Ignore the administrative stuff associated with work her in Manchester, but what about the unit content and the reading list (both at the bottom)? Any suggestions for units that have already proved effective will be greatly appreciated!