Digital Skills
MODULE CODE
CREDIT VALUE
DELIVERY
Module Aims
Aim 1
Digital Skills module is mandatory for students with non-technical background.
Aim 2
Provide students with hands-on experience in using industry-standard tools and techniques for digital design, digital content management, and project management.
Aim 3
Develop students’ project management skills and their understanding of the concept of agile development and iterations in design work. Develop students’ basic coding skills and understanding of fundamental programming concepts.
Aim 4
Develop students' ability to organise, manage, and structure digital content effectively.
Aim 5
Develop students’ basic coding skills and understanding of fundamental programming concepts.
Aim 6
Equip students with an understanding and practical knowledge related to applying responsive design principles, WCAG guidelines, and accessibility evaluation tools in UX design.
Module Content
This module is designed to provide students, especially those without prior digital skills, with a robust foundation in the essential tools and techniques employed in UX design.
The module commences with an introduction to the pivotal digital design tools widely used in the industry, such as Figma and Adobe XD. Students will gain hands-on experience in creating wireframes, prototypes, and visual designs, ensuring they can effectively translate conceptual ideas into tangible digital products.
Project management skills are emphasised in the module. Students will familiarise with tools used for digital content management and project management to equip them with the necessary skillsets for managing their portfolios and projects. Understanding the concept of agile development and lean UX methodologies, familiarising with key stakeholders and team roles in UX design projects, and gaining an insight into the process of iterative, user-centred, and participatory design will provide the groundwork for planning, designing, developing, managing, and successfully completing UX design projects.
Following this, the module explores the basics of Web development, covering HTML, CSS, and basic JavaScript. These foundational skills empower students to construct and style web pages, adding interactivity to enhance user engagement. The focus then shifts to responsive design principles, where students learn to create interfaces that seamlessly adapt to various devices and screen sizes. Utilizing frameworks like Bootstrap, students will practice designing fluid, responsive layouts that ensure a consistent user experience across different platforms. Additionally, students are exposed to fundamental programming concepts such as variables, conditionals, loops, and functions, to develop their problem solving and algorithmic thinking skills.
The module also introduces content strategy and basic search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, teaching students how to develop and manage digital content strategically. Understanding SEO principles will help students improve the visibility and discoverability of their content in search engines.
Accessibility is a vital aspect of UX design, and the module emphasises the importance of designing inclusive interfaces. Students will learn to apply accessibility standards and guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and use tools to evaluate and enhance the accessibility of their digital products. Accessibility and inclusion will be explored in relation to both conventional user interfaces (e.g., Web and mobile UI) and digital media in Virtual, Augmented, Mixed, and Extended reality (AR/VR/MR/XR) spaces.
By the end of the module, students will have acquired a comprehensive set of digital skills essential for creating user-centred digital products and services. They will be well-equipped to tackle real-world UX design challenges, contribute effectively to design projects, and lead initiatives that enhance user experiences across various digital platforms.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:
Teaching Methods
This module offers a generally practical approach to gaining digital skills related to UX Design. Students will attend lectures, seminars and labs in preparation for practical coursework. They will undertake a series of formatively assessed practical exercises, applying methods explored in lectures and lab-based demonstrations. Their learning will be supported by access to online materials and development systems.
In addition to individual exercises and one piece of individual assessed coursework, to encourage communication and help underpin the multidisciplinary nature of the module, students will also work in small groups for some practical exercises and in the delivery of one piece of group formative coursework. For the group exercises and coursework, learners will be encouraged to use digital collaboration tools such as Trello and Slack for project management and team collaboration. They will also be expected to make short presentations explaining their methods and approaches to the research and development of solutions.
Assignment briefs will be designed to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and application of relevant methods.
Assessment Methods
1. Individual Project: Weight 60%.
2. Exam: Weight 40%
To pass you must achieve a grade of 50% or above, aggregated from all the assessments that you undertake for this module.
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