Advanced Projects in Interactive Media

FALL 2025

 

This is a course about Human-Computer Interaction Research

In this course, students with deep interest in interactive media will drive cutting-edge research that shapes and examines novel user experiences with technology. Students will work in small groups to identify a direction of research, explore and iterate over designs, prototype at varying fidelities, build working systems, consider ethical implications, conduct evaluative studies, and report findings. This course is designed for students who have experience in designing and implementing interactive media through either curricular activities or by working on projects of their own. Students will be expected to have moderate levels of experience with front-end web development. This course may be used to fulfill the capstone requirement for the MAS major.

About CS 366

Learning Goals

This course is a broad introduction to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research with a focus on HCI in the age of AI and automation.

  • Demonstrate expansive understanding of the various categories of research contributions in human-computer interaction.
  • Plan research projects, including generating and testing hypotheses, designing and implementing interventions, conducting testing, analyzing and reporting results.
  • Collaborate effectively with a team of students to design, implement, and evaluate novel user experience with interactive media.
  • Create a novel web based interactive media using state-of-the-art development tools.
  • Consider and debate the promise and peril of human-computer interaction in the age of AI and automation for individuals, communities, and society.

Meet your instructors & tutors

Schedule


Policies

Class Meetings

Thursdays @ 2:20 PM - 5 PM
in the HCI Lab (SCI L120)

Prerequisites

CS204 or CS220 or CS230, or Permission of instructor.

Topics

  • Human-Centered AI
  • Research methods in HCI
  • Interaction with large language models
  • Mixed reality interaction
  • Human-computer interaction with highly automated vehicles
  • Designing and prototyping conversational agents
  • Promise and Peril of AI and automation

Textbook, Readings, and Materials

We will be using videos, podcasts and research articles which are available online. Research articles are either linked from the course schedule or available in the CS366 e-reserve Google Drive.

We will also be using the books:

"Research Methods in Human-Computer Interaction" 2nd Edition by Jonathan Lazar, , Jinjuan Heidi Feng, and Harry Hochheiser.

"Human-Centerd AI" by Ben Shneiderman.

The books are available as an ebook in the library.

Computer Science Department Guidelines

As a part of this course, students and faculty are expected to adhere to the Computer Science Department Guidelines, which are designed to create a positive and productive learning environment. These guidelines emphasize respect, integrity, inclusivity, and transparency, ensuring that our department prepares students to lead in a world shaped by computation and data. For a detailed description of these principles and guidelines on attendance, timeliness, respect for others, exam policies, and how to share your thoughts with us, please refer to the Computer Science Department Guidelines Document.

Policy on the Use of Generative AI

This course encourages students to explore responsible and critical engagement with generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools such as ChatGPT. The use of GAI or AI powered tools is allowed on all assignments as long as students follow the course AI policy. Make sure to read the CS366 AI Policy carefully.

We draw your attention to the fact that different classes at Wellesley implement different AI policies, and it is the student’s responsibility to conform to expectations for each course. Our class policy is consistent with the ACM Publications Policy.

Course Requirements

The course requires active participation in class through discussion and hands-on activities. 
Students are expected to attend class regularly, arrive on time, and engage respectfully with peers and with class material.

Students are required to prepare for class by completing the reading and submitting their commentaries prior to lecture. Submit a commentary form for each requried reading by 11:59 PM the day before class.

There are two individual homework assignments in this course that explore research skills and methods of human-computer interaction research.

The course has a final project that requires students to work in teams of 2-3 students to research a topic related to human-computer interaction with AI and automation.

Grading Policy

Your grade will be computed as a weighted average of several components. The relative weight of each component is shown below:

  • Homework assignments 20%
  • Reading commentaries 20%
  • Active participation and submission of in-classengagement tasks: 15%
  • Group research project: 45%
  • Total: 100%

Reading commentaries will be graded for submission - for example if you submitted 75% of the required commentaries your submission grade will be 75/100. In addition, a random sample of 3 commentaries will be graded on a check-minus/check/check-plus scale. These scores correspond to 3, 4, and 5 points. Throughout the semester, you may opt to pass on submitting four individual commentaries without detracting from your submission grade. There are no exemptions beyond this.

In-class activity grade will be determined based on completion; e.g., if you complete and submit 3 out of 4 tasks for a lab, you will receive a 3/4 or 75% on that lab.

Homework assignments and project milestones grades will be based on grading criteria specified in the description of the assignment.

The mapping from numerical score to letter grade looks like this: >=95 is an A, >=90 is an A-, >=86 is a B+, >=83 is a B, >80 is a B-, >=75 is a C+, >=73 is a C, >=70 is a C-, >=60 is a D, <60 is an F.

Late Assignments

You are encouraged to submit homework assignments on the requested deadline but you may submit it up to 48h after the deadline. If you need extra time beyond this grace period, it is required that you contact the instructor and discuss a plan for completing the assignment. We will work together to make sure that plan is a reasonable and effective so that it supports both your learning and your health.

Collaboration

This course emphasizes collaboration, as working effectively within teams is an important part of the innovation culture. Working with a team provides you with opportunities to develop and improve interpersonal, communication, leadership, and follower-ship skills.

I strongly encourage you to get to know all of your classmates and to collaborate extensively with them. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of this course, you may be strong in some areas but weak in others. Please share your strengths, and feel free to ask others for help.

Here is a summary of the collaboration policy:

  • In-class activities and discussion: This class requires your active contribution during our time together. Please come to class prepared and ready to contribute to our learning community.
  • Project: Teams of 2-3 students will work together to complete and submit project milestones. You will be assigned to a team.
  • Reading commenteries and homework assignments: no collaboration.

Disabilities

If you have a disability or condition, either long-term or temporary, and need reasonable academic adjustments in this course, please contact Disability Services to get a letter outlining your accommodation needs, and submit that letter to me. You should request accommodations as early as possible in the term, or before the term begins, since some situations can require significant time for review and accommodation design. If you need immediate accommodations, during the term, please arrange to meet with me as soon as possible. If you are unsure but suspect you may have an undocumented need for accommodations, you are encouraged to contact Disability Services. They can provide assistance including screening and referral for assessments. Disability Services can be reached at disabilityservices@wellesley.edu, at 781-283-2434, by scheduling an appointment online at their website www.Wellesley.edu/disability.