EPD 690: Writing User Centered Engineering Documents

Engineering Professional Development

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EPD 690 - Writing User Centered Engineering Documents

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Spring 2012 (1124)
Session A1 : EPD 690 Social and Ethical Impacts of Technology Spring 2012 (Matta) Sections: 001
Session A1 : EPD 690 Special Topics in Engineering Professional Development Spring 2012 (1) Sections: 004
Session JGF : EPD 690 Special Topics in Engineering Professional Development Spring 2012 (Binzley) Sections: 009, 010, 010

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Catalog Description

690 Special Topics in Engineering Professional Development. I, II; 1-3 cr.

Course Prerequisite(s)

EPD 155
Instr Permission

Prerequisite knowledge and/or skills

Completion of Part A communication requirement set by the University
Ability to plan, research, and organize information for a variety of audiences
Proficiency in communication software, such as wordprocessing, graphics, and the Internet, as well as file management
Basic knowledge of Dreamweaver, gained before the class begins OR within the first month of the semester of class. Classes can be taken via DOIT by students for free. Sign up early.

Textbook(s) and/or other required material

Course materials and resources on department server and website
Textbook, if required, will be listed on syllabus

Course objectives

By the end of the course, a student should be able to:

Apply basic concepts and strategies for publishing information using online media, interface design, and usability testing;

Plan, create, test, improve, and distribute online communication projects that involve integration of text, computer graphics, scanned images, animation, and sound;

Understand and use computer technology and software packages in planning, producing, integrating, and distribution technical material;

Work as member of a team, define goals and clarify task requirements, and create action plans and timetables to complete assigned work;

Develop and evaluate potential solutions to online design problems and develop prototypes for interface designs; and

Take corrective actions based on feedback by others and usability testing.

Topics covered

Web site planning (content definition, site architecture, prototyping, usability testing)
Hypertext and navigation issues
Interface design (principles, usability criteria) Color in web design (characteristics of color, color schemes, technical issues)
Layout of web pages (content modules, blank space, alignmentg, proximigty, contrast, sequence)
Web typography
Accessibility issues, intellectual property issues

Class/laboratory schedule

Tuesdays and Thursdays Two 75 minute classes; includes lab time

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component

This course contributes primarily to the students' knowledge of engineering topics, and does provide design experience.

The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.

Enhances communication and document design skills in engineering subjects Contributes to skills in the design process of planning, prototyping, testing, and implementing and distributing, both individually and collaborative Provides ability to use modern information technology necessary for engineering practice Prepares students for internships in technical communication

Relationship of course to undergraduate degree program objectives and outcomes

This course serves students in a variety of engineering majors and contributes to the Technical Communication Certificate. The information below describes how the course contributes to the college's and the Technical Communication program's educational objectives.

This course counts toward the 24-credit Certificate in Technical Communication. The Certificate helps meet industry and government agencies? demands for engineers who are skilled communicators. The course supports program objectives by providing an education in principles and processes for communicating about technical subjects and emphasizing the use use of current electronic publishing technology. The course provides students with real world experiences by encouraging real world course projects and collaborative work throughout the design process.

Assessment of student progress toward course objectives

Online communication project, including document brief, presentation of conceptual design (goal definition, branching diagram, prototype page design), and presentation of the completed web site
Reading assignments
Usability testing
Technology work , including HTML, web authoring software, graphic software, scanning, file management, and server and client technology
Email responses and quizzes on issues relating web design and online information
A variety of approaches will be used in assessing learning and competencies: self-paced learning of technology through computer exercises, peer review, team interactions, usability testing, and instructor feedback on drafts and assignments as well as email.

Date last modified: 18-Aug-2011
Date created: 29-Jul-1999
Content by: custserv@epd.engr.wisc.edu
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