Summary: Consider the range of mental models associated with a common device; attempt to develop an improved cognitive model.
Preparation: We will begin this investigation in class on Thursday, Jan. 31.
Collaboration: You should complete this assignment in your groups from class. You may discuss the assignment with anyone else you like, but please cite the source of any major insights.
Due: Thursday, Feb. 7, 2:15 p.m.
Complete ID assignment 3, p. 131-132, parts B-D.
Please don't include your answers for part A. Choose a few examples to illustrate your answer to part B (how similar? different? accurate? etc.)
For part D, if you think the conceptual model is adequate and doesn't need redesigning, make an argument for why.
I expect to see a short writeup (a few paragraphs) for each part. You might wish to illustrate your new conceptual model with a diagram. Your writeup should be as long as it needs to be, but certainly not more than five pages.
Please type and format your work, print it out, and bring it to class.
Turn in one writeup per group.In addition to the clarity of your communication, I will look at the following for each problem.
B. Do you provide appropriate examples (from your team's answers to part A) to support your claims?
C. How careful is your analysis? Do you use ideas from class, such as mappings and visibility?
D. How does your new conceptual model address the problems you noted in part C? How creative is your new design?
Janet Davis (davisjan@cs.grinnell.edu)
Created January 31, 2007