DesignThinkingforComputerTech

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course applies the “key concepts,” “design principles,” and “systems thinking” methods for understanding computer systems, software applications, data, interfaces, digital media, the Internet, and AI applications. Students will learn the methods for “deblackboxing” (opening up for understanding) the complexity of computer systems (large or small) and the applications we use every day by learning the design principles and systems thinking behind the “why” and “how” of the technologies. This course is designed especially for students without a technical background, but who want to understand the key concepts behind everything that we do in computing, and be able to move beyond being simply users and consumers of technology products. Students will learn the basic building blocks for this knowledge, beginning with computer system design principles, and progressing through the concepts for information and data, and the design principles for interfaces and interaction, the Internet and Web, and recent developments in AI. Why learn these methods? Every field and career today requires important uses of software, data, interfaces, and AI, and every field needs people who can communicate across technical and non-technical communities for explaining the technologies so that organizations can make informed decisions about applications and understand the consequences of certain kinds of designs. To become future thought-leaders in any field, students will learn what new possibilities open up for them by moving beyond being passive “consumers'' or “users'' of black-boxed technology products to becoming active participants who claim an ownership stake in the knowledge of the key concepts and design principles that make the technologies possible. With this knowledge, students will be able to participate in making important real-world decisions about existing technologies, critique design choices, and develop new applications in their chosen fields and careers. Outcomes: By the end of the course, students will understand and be able to explain the key design principles implemented in our main computing and digital technologies, and how to apply this knowledge to new real-world contexts. By the end of the course, students will have acquired: (1) the ability to explain the “why” and “how” of computer system design, software applications, digital media, and networked information with the unifying concepts provided by systems and design theory; (2) the ability to apply systems and design thinking for understanding and explaining the design principles of technologies that will be important in their own chosen careers or professions, which includes the conceptual tools for understanding future developments; (3) the ability to apply design principles for conceiving and developing new innovations and applications by being able to communicate and collaborate with those who will implement design ideas in the technical systems.