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Rating

Total average

71.9/100
Learning Materials ( 80 )
Learning Activities ( 67.5 )
Blackboard Management ( 80 )
Course Content ( 70 )
Course Structure ( 75 )
Contact Availability ( 100 )
Course Difficulty ( 30.5 )

Reviews (2)

Anonymous
   
DECO3850 – Physical Computing & Interaction Design Studio 77.9

This was probably the most fun/engaging course I've taken during the 3 years, you have the opportunity to develop the concept, hi-fidelity prototype and getting feedback from the public. The tutors are always there to help you with physical installation, design and coding. It's the perfect course to take in your final semester.

However, they way the teams were formed didn't really make sense to me. You get to choose your favourite 3 topics and the workshops you can attend, and you'll be put into the team with people who wrote down the same. Which is fine, because you don't want to spend so much time (at least 10hrs/wk) working on something you hate, but they don't consider everyone's role in the team. For example, we had 3 designers and 1 coder, who couldn't code. It was a complete disaster, we had to make last minute changes (2 days before the exhibition) to the installation, to make sure that it works at the exhibition. The result turned out to be exactly how we wanted, and we got great feedback from the public.

But, we were grated terribly, and the explanation we received was "looking at the progress through the semester, it seemed like you guys didn't do anything until the last minute". Even though the tutors were aware that we tried everything we could to help the coder in our team, but he refuses to listen (to anyone)/won't communicate with others. So I think it's surprising how they don't include peer review when it comes to marking people. Just like other courses that are all about group work, you'll never be in the perfect scenario where everyone contributes equally.

Overall, a great course and experience is really special if you're lucky enough to be in a good team. I'd much rather working on something I'm not passionate about than being in a team where you know the ship is sinking since the very beginning.
Semester taken

Semester 1 - 2017

Your program/major

Human Computer Interaction

Is lecture attendance necessary?

Yes

Is the textbook necessary?

No

Positives No positive points
Negatives No negative points
Posted on October 31, 2018 4:34 pm
Anonymous
   
DECO3850 – Physical Computing & Interaction Design Studio 65.9

If you find out that Lorna is taking this course, DO NOT TAKE IT!! The amount of favouritism that occurs is so disgusting, it’s shameful. She clearly has her favourites in class, which are usually the people who speak unnecessarily and put others down when giving feedback in class.

The course was okay and it’s a lot of fun. Make sure you’re on slack and that you read everything or the tutors and Lorna will rip into you like sharks. Workshop is great and is good as a place to be social so make sure you choose a project that forces you to make things, because that’s where Lorna gets close to students even though you can tell by their report back and journal entries that they’re terrible at UX.

There are end of year rewards with Lorna, which if you’re keen to get them, again, be in the workshop a lot and be one of her favourites. It helps if you have an overly loud voice, ignore everyone else when they’re speaking, and exclude internationals (except big ol good guy D.R. from my sem). Also don’t spend hundreds of dollars making your project when there are easily accessible trash heaps with good material.

Even if you don’t make many friends, exhibition night is amazing and you end up talking to so many people. Voting happens and the lecturer and tutors come around to mark you so get your printing done early or you’re dead.

Solid 10/10 if Lorna wasn’t taking the course. If I had the chance, I would definitely repeat it with Stephen because I met him at the exhibition and he seems like a good guy.
Semester taken

Semester 1 - 2017

Your program/major

BIT

Is lecture attendance necessary?

Yes

Is the textbook necessary?

No

Positives
  • Build anything you want
  • Super fun
Negatives
  • Lorna’s favouritism
  • Time consuming (workshop might become your second home)
Posted on June 30, 2018 9:13 pm

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