I've just barely recovered from the last round of courses, and it's almost time to start some more! This semester, I'm taking the following courses:

• EXT 597: Research in User-Centred Design - "User-centered design (UCD) is a client or user-centered philosophy in which the individual is at the center of an iterative design process encompassing multiple factors in an interaction between user and information product. UCD considers cognitive, sociocultural, political, and technological factors involved in defining user tasks and goals that drive the design and development of software, web sites, information systems and processes - anything with which people interact. UCD is concerned with the usefulness, usability, desirability, legibility, learnability, accessibility and meaningfulness of an information product."
  I'm actually quite looking forward to it, because I think it will be a really useful course.


• HuCo 510: Theoretical Issues in Humanities Computing - One of the last two required courses for the HuCo program. This should be a beefier version of the course we took in the fall: This course investigates the theories that underpin the relationship of computing methods to humanities research, exploring in particular how computing modifies or transforms traditional approaches and theories in the humanities. Students will deepen their understanding of terms and concepts drawn from communications theory, the philosophy of information systems, and the theories that surround knowledge representation, the nature of text and multimedia, hypertext, cyberculture, and social questions. These issues will be viewed from different conceptual standpoints ranging from phenomenological and reader response theories through to theories of cultural materialism.


• HuCo 530: Project Design and Management in Humanities Computing - Another class I'm really looking forward to. I already have my team picked. Humanities Computing research is unlike traditional humanities research in many respects: the scope of projects usually extends beyond the single-scholar research model, the computer tools needed for research are expensive and the technology changes rapidly, electronic publishing is a largely unknown and expensive undertaking rarely tackled by conventional print publishers, and electronic research requires updating and maintenance beyond project funding. This course will prepare students for the various aspects of designing, implementing, managing, and maintaining a Humanities Computing research project.

Something I am going to have to mind this term is my free time. I loved helping everyone who asked for help last term, but it took a real toll on me and my free time (or lack thereof). Since I really want to get a better head-start on term papers this term, I have to try to make my self less available. Sucks, but there's no other way to do it (I can't rob Peter to pay Paul).