2 YR ORDINARY DIPLOMA IN HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION AND USER EXPERIENCE

Course Duration: 2 Years (4 semesters, including holidays and attachment)
Course Fee: 30,000 Kenyan Shillings per semester (each semester takes 3 months)

weekly commitment: minimum 2 hours per day.

Course Overview:

This course is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to create intuitive, user-friendly interfaces and enhance user experiences. It covers the principles of human-computer interaction (HCI), user experience (UX) design, usability testing, and user research methodologies. Graduates will be prepared to design, evaluate, and improve interactive systems and products.

Year 1

Semester 1: Foundations of HCI and UX

• Week 1-2: Introduction to HCI and UX

• • Overview of HCI and UX
  • Importance of User-Centered Design
  • Key Concepts and Terminology
  • Practical Exercises

• Week 3-6: Human Psychology and Behavior

• • Basics of Cognitive Psychology
  • Understanding User Behavior
  • Human Factors in Design
  • Mini Project

• Week 7-10: Design Principles and Guidelines

• • Principles of Good Design
  • Design Heuristics and Guidelines
  • Visual Design Basics
  • Practical Exercises

• Week 11-14: Prototyping and Wireframing

• • Introduction to Prototyping Tools
  • Creating Wireframes and Mockups
  • Low-Fidelity vs High-Fidelity Prototypes
  • Practical Exercises

• Week 15-16: Semester Review and Assessment

• • Review of Key Concepts
  • Practice Projects
  • Mid-Semester Exam

Semester 2: Core HCI and UX Concepts

• Week 1-4: User Research Methods

• • Techniques for User Research
  • Conducting Interviews and Surveys
  • Analyzing User Data
  • Practical Exercises

• Week 5-8: Usability Testing

• • Planning Usability Tests
  • Conducting and Moderating Tests
  • Analyzing Test Results
  • Mini Project

• Week 9-12: Interaction Design

• • Designing Interactive Interfaces
  • Interaction Patterns and Paradigms
  • Designing for Different Devices
  • Practical Exercises

• Week 13-14: Information Architecture

• • Basics of Information Architecture
  • Organizing and Structuring Information
  • Navigation Design
  • Practical Exercises

• Week 15-16: Semester Review and Assessment

• • Review of Key Concepts
  • Practice Projects
  • End-of-Semester Exam

Year 2

Semester 3: Advanced HCI and UX Techniques

• Week 1-4: Advanced User Experience Design

• • Designing for Accessibility
  • Inclusive Design Principles
  • Advanced Visual Design Techniques
  • Practical Exercises

• Week 5-8: User Interface (UI) Development

• • Basics of UI Development
  • Using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
  • Responsive Design Techniques
  • Mini Project

• Week 9-12: Mobile and Web UX

• • Designing for Mobile Devices
  • Mobile UX Best Practices
  • Differences Between Mobile and Web UX
  • Practical Exercises

• Week 13-14: Emerging Trends in HCI

• • Trends in HCI and UX
  • Designing for Emerging Technologies (AR/VR, IoT)
  • Future Directions in HCI
  • Practical Exercises

• Week 15-16: Semester Review and Assessment

• • Review of Key Concepts
  • Practice Projects
  • Mid-Semester Exam

Semester 4: Capstone Project and Industry Applications

• Week 1-4: Capstone Project

• • Project Planning and Design
  • Implementation of HCI/UX Project
  • Portfolio Development
  • Final Presentation and Evaluation

• Week 5-8: Industry Attachment

• • Attachment in HCI/UX Roles
  • Applying HCI/UX Skills in Real-World Projects
  • Industry Best Practices
  • Practical Experience

• Week 9-12: Professional Development

• • Career Pathways in HCI and UX
  • Building a Professional Portfolio
  • Networking and Career Development
  • Practical Exercises

• Week 13-16: Course Review and Final Exam

• • Comprehensive Course Review
  • Practice Projects
  • Final Exam

Attachment

Students will undertake an industry attachment to gain practical experience in HCI and UX roles, working with companies to apply their skills in real-world projects.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive an "Ordinary Diploma in Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience" certificate, recognizing their expertise and skills in designing and improving interactive systems and products.