This content is located in CAPS under Social Implications: Impact on Society for Grade 12.

User-centred design (UCD) focuses on creating software applications tailored to meet the needs and preferences of end users. When teaching this topic, educators can illustrate how UCD impacts the usability and success of various software applications like websites, database forms, and presentations. Here are practical classroom strategies to make this topic engaging, relevant, and applicable.

Engaging with Website Design

Websites are one of the most familiar examples of software applications students interact with daily. Start by discussing websites that students find easy or difficult to use. Highlight elements of user-centred design, such as:

• Navigation: A site should be intuitive. Compare examples of user-friendly sites (e.g., with clear menus and consistent layouts) against poorly designed ones.
• Accessibility: Explain features like alternative text for images, contrasting colours for readability, and compatibility with screen readers.
• Responsiveness: Showcase how sites adapt to various devices, emphasizing the importance of mobile-friendly designs.

Classroom Activity: Divide students into groups and have each group evaluate a website using a UCD checklist. Then, let them suggest redesign ideas based on identified shortcomings. For resource-limited environments, provide screenshots of websites and use paper prototypes to simulate their ideas.

Exploring Database Form Design

Database forms are used to input and manage data effectively. Teach students how UCD principles improve these forms by ensuring they are straightforward and error-proof. Key features include:

• Clear Labels: Fields should have descriptive labels that are easy to understand.
• Logical Flow: The form should follow a logical sequence, e.g., personal details before contact information.
• Error Messages: Highlight the importance of providing helpful error messages when incorrect data is entered.

Practical Idea: Simulate a data-entry process in a school-related scenario, such as a library book registration form. Use basic database software (or even paper mock-ups) to demonstrate how poor design (e.g., missing fields or unclear instructions) can lead to errors and inefficiencies. Then redesign the form as a class exercise.

Enhancing Presentation Design

Presentations are a common tool for communication. Discuss how user-centred design ensures presentations are clear, engaging, and audience-appropriate. Focus on:

• Visual Hierarchy: Emphasize the use of font sizes, colours, and placement to draw attention to key points.
• Consistency: Explain the importance of using a consistent design, such as the same font and style across slides.
• Simplicity: Demonstrate how less is often more by comparing cluttered slides with well-designed ones.

Interactive Exercise: Provide students with poorly designed slides and ask them to improve these slides using UCD principles. For classrooms with limited resources, students can sketch their redesigned slides on paper.

Bringing It All Together

To consolidate learning, engage students in a mini-project where they apply UCD principles to design a software application prototype. For example:

• Scenario: Create a website for a local community project.
• Tools: Paper mock-ups or simple presentation tools for design ideas.
• Reflection: Have students present their designs, explaining how their choices align with UCD principles.

This project not only reinforces the topic but also encourages creativity and critical thinking.

By contextualising user-centred design within relatable scenarios, students gain a deeper understanding of how these principles impact the effectiveness and usability of software applications. Share your thoughts, ideas, or teaching experiences in the comments below—how do you teach UCD concepts effectively?