CS 338: Graphical User Interfaces
Course Syllabus
Professor: |
Erin Solovey |
Email: |
erin @ cs.drexel.edu |
Office: |
University Crossings 108 |
Office Hours: |
Please email me for an appointment! |
TA: |
Alex Duff |
Email: |
amd435 @ drexel.edu |
Office: |
Cyber Learning Center (University Crossings 147) |
Office Hours: |
Thursdays 2-4pm & Fridays 10-12 (or by appointment) |
Description
A vast number of today's computer applications have user interfaces through
which users enter information, analyze data, play games, etc. In this course
we will explore how to implement common user interfaces that we all use in everyday
life. The majority of the course looks in detail at the specific components
of a user interface and the integration of these components into a usable system.
The course also discusses design and evaluation issues that arise during implementation
in order to understand the context in which interfaces are developed.
Goals and Objectives
This course aims for students to (1) implement basic user interfaces using a high-level programming language and interface toolkit; (2) understand and apply concepts of interface layout and event handling; (3) understand and apply concepts of various interface components such as buttons, lists, and windows; and (4) understand and appreciate the larger context in which interfaces are designed, implemented, and ultimately used.
Prerequisites
The official prerequisite for this course is CS 350 (Software Design) or SE 310 (Software Architecture). The course will assume that students are completely comfortable
with the Java programming language and a Java development environment (e.g., Eclipse).
Lectures
Lectures are intended to be interactive, and class participation is
highly encouraged -- please ask questions early and often! Topics
covered in class will include the following:
- introduction to interface implementation in the context of design and evaluation
- introduction to Java Swing (a package for building portable interfaces)
- interface input and output
- event-driven programming
- layout and look-and-feel
- lower-level components: buttons, lists, etc.
- higher-level components: windows, dialogs, etc.
- interfaces on the web and in the world
Readings
There is no required textbook for this course; the lecture notes handed out
in class will serve as the primary study resource, and we may hand out additional
sources during the term. Optionally, you may also find it helpful to purchase
a Java and/or Java Swing reference book. Feel free to choose whatever suits
you best; there are many books to choose from (try searching for "java swing" on amazon.com). However, before you purchase additional books, please note that the
Web contains many online resources that may serve just as well, such
as Oracle's online Java Tutorial
and Swing Tutorial.
Assignments
Homework assignments will focus on programming to solidify
and expand on topics presented in lectures. The assignments
involve implementation of a user interface in the Java programming language
and the standard Swing package; lectures will introduce whatever knowledge of
Java is needed to complete the assignments.
Project
The course will include a multi-week individual project that brings together
all aspects of the learned material. The initial waypoint will include group discussion of interface prototypes to get feedback for future work. The
final week will include demonstration sessions in which everyone presents
their projects and results to the class.
Exams
We will have two exams during the term. The exams will test knowledge and skills
developed in lectures, readings, and assignments. The exams will stress deep understanding
of the concepts involved rather than more superficial aspects of programming.
Grading
All aspects of this course are important for developing an understanding of and
appreciation for building user interfaces. The grading breakdown will be as follows:
- Assignments: 20% (2 assignments, 10% each)
- Exams: 40% (2 exams, 20% each)
- Project: 35% (2 graded stages)
- Quizzes: 5% (at the instructor's discretion; if there are no quizzes, the other components will be scaled accordingly)
Assignments turned in up to one day late incur a 50% penalty; assignments turned
in more than one day late cannot be accepted and receive a score of 0. Missed
exams also receive a score of 0.
Communication
The instructor will disseminate important announcements by email through the course
mailing list, and also post these announcements on the course web site. Also,
the web site contains a timeline with links to all information (lecture slides,
assignments, etc.) relevant to the course.
Policies
- Attendance for lectures and exams is expected. In the case of a school closing
on an exam day, the exam will be given in the next class period. Snow closings are posted on the Drexel home page.
- Academic honesty is essential. Cheating, academic misconduct,
plagiarism, and fabrication of any submitted material, including both
code and prose, are serious breaches of academic integrity and will be
dealt with accordingly. Violations will result minimally in a grade
of zero for the exam/assignment in question, and a report of the
violation to Drexel administration; further penalties may also apply at the discretion of the instructor, department, and university. PLEASE NOTE: CCI now has a "Two strikes and you are out of CCI" policy. Please refer to the Department of Computer Science Academic
Integrity Policy and the Drexel University Academic Integrity Policy for more information.