2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

DESN5155M Information and Instructional Design

15 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Dr Maria Lonsdale
Email: m.lonsdale@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module introduces theories and principles of Information Design and Instructional Design, and discusses how they overlap and complement each other, and when used together create the most effective, usable and understandable human-centred design solutions. Information Design helps people to use and access information. Instructional Design helps people to learn and understand information. Information Design benefits from Instructional Design when the concern is to understand, act upon and/or retain information. Instructional Design benefits from Information Design if the concern is information organization, aesthetics and navigation.Some examples of design outputs that clearly involve both information and instructional design are: apps, questionnaires and forms, medicine leaflets, patient information, product manuals, utility bills, textbooks, online subscriptions, transport routes and journey plans, etc.Students will respond to a set brief in order to put the above theories and principles into practice. They will produce a reflective work log to document their design process. Students will also conduct usability testing as a group to ascertain the applicability of their design solution to real-life contextsStudents will be given a choice of 2 briefs: one brief will focus more on Information Design (e.g. motion graphics, infographics, etc.) and another brief will focus more on Instructional Design (e.g. textbooks, product instructions, etc.).

Objectives

This module gives students the opportunity to:
- Learn theoretical and practical perspectives regarding Information and Instructional Design.
- Explore the inter-disciplinary nature of Information and Instructional Design in a variety of contexts – healthcare, education, business, public sector, etc.
- Address the specific needs and motivations of Information and Instructional Design users by developing creative and effective design solutions.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have provided evidence of being able to:
1. Analyse and interpret current challenges, theories and principles of Information and Instructional Design in order to define a problem or need.
2. Access and critically analyse literature, and select appropriate research methods for the successful development of a design project.
3. Design and develop effective and visually stimulating design solutions in response to a specific problem or need and in relation to real-life settings.
4. Contribute to the implementation and execution of a project to a professional and commercial standard.
5. Take a proactive role in working with others and contribute to the planning and execution of group work.

Skills outcomes
User-centred research and design

Syllabus

Indicative Syllabus:

LECTURES

1. Introduction to the module
Identifying the need for information and instructional design
2. Information and instructional design principles and theories
3. –––
4. Information and Instructional design for specific audiences
5. –––
6. Information and Instructional design in practice
7. –––
8. Testing the information and instructional message
9. –––
10. –––
11. –––


SEMINARS

1. –––
2. Problem definition and research
3. Research
4. Idea generation
5. Interim feedback (research and ideas)
6. Design development
7. Design development
8. Design development
9. Usability testing preparation
10. Usability testing
11. Design refinement

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	6	1.00	6.00
Seminar	16	1.00	16.00
Private study hours			128.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

In order to gain confidence to develop and articulate their own ideas, students will engage in private study.

Each lecture is supported by material that is available on the Blackboard VLE. This material provides links to appropriate journal papers, books, videos and websites. Digital copies of the lectures will be also available on the VLE so that students can follow up in a systematic and structured manner.

Students will bring and discuss their ideas to the lectures, allowing them to gain confidence in their own critical thinking. Students will also be asked to find and provide design examples to show their understanding of the theoretical content addressed in the lecture.

• Literature search and reading: 30 hours
• Independent research and preparation: 40 hours
• Preparation and evaluation of assessed outcomes (including usability testing) - 58 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored through:
- Regular attendance at lectures and seminars (absences dealt with through the normal School channels).
- Participation in seminars.
- Regular feedback given in seminars.
- Interim feedback in week 5: formative presentation.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Project	Creative Design Project	70.00
Group Project	Group Research: Usability testing	10.00
Report	Project report: 1250-1500 words	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The re-sit will be an individual creative design project and a 1,500 words project report.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 26/04/2017

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