Level 1 External AS92006

Demonstrate understanding of usability in human-computer interfaces

About

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on the design, evaluation, and implementation of interactive computer systems, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the interaction between humans and machines. HCI is concerned with studying how users interact with technology, understanding their needs, and creating user-friendly interfaces that facilitate efficient and satisfying experiences.

This NZQA standard 92006 is an external examination worth 5 Credits. The exam is on Tuesday, 18th November 2025

At the start of each lesson have a look at one of the following websites. What makes it a poor design? Each website has a link underneath it to a discussion or explanation for why the website exists.

Yale School of Art

Arngren.net

Lings Cars (Museum Version)

This is the modern version

Penny Juice

Task 1: What can go wrong?

In small groups watch one of these videos and do a quick investigation about one of the scenarios about what could go wrong with software and user interfaces. Then assemble a group of different experts and explain it your classmates.

Therac-25 Radiation Overdoses

Hawaii False Missile Alert

(Some risky language)

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/error-prevention/

Boeing 737 Max MCAS linked Crashes

Moon landing Lunar Modual Errors

https://www.space.com/26593-apollo-11-moon-landing-scariest-moments.html

Task 2: Exploring Tikanga and Mātauranga Māori

The Computer Science Field Guide has recently released a unit on mātauranga Māori. Read the webpage and awnser the questions on the worksheet. After this read the article by Keegan, T. T. A. G. (2017) about the importance of accessable interfaces to Māori users.

Task 2: Exploring Tikanga and mātauranga Māori

Worksheet

Work through this worksheet as you read the resources on Mātauranga Māori

For neurodiverse students it may be useful to use a text to speech tool such as Read Aloud. Please note that this software has some issues pronouncing Māori words which itself could be failing in some aspects of Mātauranga Māori.

CS Field Guide

This field guide is written to support students in Aotearoa | New Zealand to prepare for NCEA assessments, and one aspect of that is to be able to apply usability principles relating to mātāpono Māori - considerations that embed Māori culture.

Part 2

This worksheet works along side the Excellent Article on Māori language interfaces by Te Taka Keegan. Each paragraph can be used as a lesson starter after the Computer Science Field Guide has been completed.

Task 2.2: Exploring Tikanga and mātauranga Māori

Consider mātāpono Māori to assess the usability of a human-computer interface.

Keegan, T. T. A. G. (2017). Māori language interfaces. In H. Whaanga, T. T. A. G. Keegan, & M. Apperley (Eds.), He Whare Hangarau Māori - Language, culture & technology (pp. 10–15). Hamilton, New Zealand: Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao / Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, the University of Waikato. © 2017 copyright with the author. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Users and Tasks

Task 3: Users and Tasks

Have a read of the Human Computer Interaction 4.2. Users and tasks in the Computer Science Field guide and complete the tasks on this worksheet.

Task 0 HCI Analysis Criteria Summary

Task 4: Neilsens Heuristics

Watch the following video, look at the slides, and/or explore the CS Field Guide to learn about Neilson Heuristics. Take notes in the document on the left, using your own vocabulary, for each of the key words.

Video

Usability Heurestics - Nielsen

Slides

CS Field Guide

Watch the video, read and work through the interactive activities

John Taggart from Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Task 1 Heuristics for HCI - Gathering Examples

Task 5: Finding Neilsens Heuristics on AirNZ

To help with your understanding, make a copy of this g.doc Heuristics for HCI - Gathering examples

Use the AirNz website
Find (write or screen capture) an example and explain how this is an example of the heuristic on the g.doc

If you need some clarification, refer back to the slides, CS Field Guide, or your notes

Melonbob, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Task 2 Heuristics for HCI - In Reverse

Task 6: HCI in Reverse

Now you are an expert, make a copy of this g.doc Heuristics for HCI - In Reverse

Find examples (Write or screen capture) on the Woolworths Online website and work out which heuristic this does/does not meet and explain.
Then compare with New World Online to help you suggest improvements

Emoji One, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Task 7: Quizlet and Kahoot

HCI Quizlet

Try the test, match game, or as a class play Classic Live.

Kahoot Link

Blooket

Task 8: Confusing terms that could make you fail your exam!

Students often confuse the following heuristics, make sure you know the difference:

“Error Prevention and Help” with “Users Recognise, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors”
- Help Users Recognise, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors will often be marked in RED. An error has happened and the user is informed.
- Error Prevention will often be highlighted in GREY to show you cannot interact with them. This will prevent the user from ever entering a state in which an error can occur.
“Flexibility and Efficiency of Use” and “User Control and Freedom”
- Flexibility and Efficiency of Use is about being able to do stuff lots of different ways. Look for filters, shortcuts (possibly keyboard), personalisation options.
- User Control and Freedom is about being able to CANCEL, UNDO, REMOVE or GO BACK/RETURN. Look for little red x's, Breadcrumb navigation, or any buttons labeled with the key words above.

My Own Interface

Task 9: Your Own Interface

You will need to study your own interface before the exam. This worksheet will walk you through choosing a good interface along with some examples.

Assessment

This external is a Digital Technologies (DT) common assessment tasks (CATs) and is completed on a computer. This DCAT asks you to respond to a series of prompts or questions drawn from the achievement standards.

You should aim to write between 800 and 1500 words in total, in about 1.5hrs.

This standard involves the you applying knowledge of usability heuristics to analyse a chosen interface as it relates to it performing a particular task. There is a video of someone using an interface of a website which you will use to answer the questions. You will not be able to access the websites independently during the exam.

Additional instructions for exam

During the assessment session, please ensure that all work is directly entered into your computer or device. You are allowed to include screenshots from the provided resources by copying and pasting them. Note that physical copies, online course materials, or any form of notes should not be used for completing this assessment. Additionally, internet resources may not be accessed during the assessment, except for the CAT.

Upon completion of the assessment session, make sure to save your response. By doing so, you confirm that the work presented is entirely your own. It's important to note that NZQA may digitally sample your work to verify its authenticity.