STKD6030 Universal Design Fieldwork MA (International Course description

The main topic in this course is the design, evaluation, and testing of new and emerging user interfaces in international settings. This is developed in accordance with principles for universal accessibility and acquired through many practical exercises coupled with lectures presenting theories relevant to the field.The course will also provide both theoretical principles of Universal Design and hands-on experience on how to design and evaluate ICT systems using these principles.

It is recommended to have completed a minimum of 30 ECTS of your total 180 ECTs within computer science.

Completed Bachelor degree, in addition to the international summer school's general requirements. The requirement has to be met and documented by application deadline.

After completing this course the student should have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course the student has:

• advanced knowledge of national and international legislation regarding the inclusion of all groups of users in society in various national and international contexts
• advanced knowledge of Universal Design and accessibility concepts
• thorough knowledge on various physical and cognitive disabilities, universally accessible solutions for ICT in cooperation with users
• knowledge on ensuring access to ICT for everyone in low-resource settings
• ability to use various methods of knowledge acquisition through research and development work
• ability to understand and implement Universal Design principles to design and evaluate systems

Skills

On successful completion of this course the student has:

• ability to critically analyse different usability and accessibility barriers in particular as they apply to business and government in low-, middle-, and high-income countries
• outstanding proficiency at evaluating and understanding the Universal Design of existing processes and technologies
• excellent ability to develop universally designed systems in resource-limited environments
• exceptional proficiency at applying Universal Design principles in practice
• outstanding experience developing state-of-the-art and cost-effective universally designed ICT solutions
• excellent ability to implement Universal Design practices within an organization
• exceptional ability to critique design processes from a Universal Design perspective

General CompetenceOn successful completion of this course the student is:

• proficient at using Universal Design principles in testing and evaluating ICT in particular for persons with low socio-economic status
• an expert in Universal Design policies in practice as they pertain to low-, middle- and high-income countries
• mastering Universal Design practices to ensure access to ICT for everyone
• able to design and develop new accessible and universally designed technologies and ICT systems
• able to evaluate existing ICT systems according to Universal Design standards and principles
• able to communicate Universal Design concepts in theory and in practical implementation

The course will take a project-based learning approach. Course participants will work in groups on a project and this project will be evaluated at the end of the course based on group presentation and final report.

This course is a fieldwork course that involves 12 weeks in-person instruction in a country outside of Norway.

None.

Examination system: Portfolio assessment. The students submit a portfolio consisting of an individual field report 4,000 to 8,000 words, and one additional artefact such as documentary evidence of their fieldwork in the form of pictures, videos or audio recordings, or a prototype or technical drawing of an innovation produced as part of their fieldwork.

The portfolio is graded as a whole and given one grade. The result cannot be appealed.

All support materials are allowed for both the field report and for the additional artefact.

Pass/Fail

One examiner (internal or external) will be used.

None.