Understanding User Needs

Understanding User Needs

This course is part of User Experience Research and Design Specialization

Instructor: Kentaro Toyama

48,704 already enrolled

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Understand user needs assessments and qualitative research
Learn an end-to-end methodology for qualitative research
Explore good practices for conducting semi-structured interviews, in-situ observation, and affinity walls

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

11 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the User Experience Research and Design Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

Designing effective interactive systems requires understanding the needs and capabilities of the people who will be using them. In this UX course we will focus on how to interact with users (or potential users) to understand what they need, what they currently do, what they love and hate, and examine human capabilities and behavior as they relate to UX design.

Learners will be introduced to numerous techniques to gather data from and about users. This course is part of the User Experience (UX) Research and Design specialization offered on Coursera. What you'll learn: Find out what user needs assessments are, what qualitative research is, and how the two are related. Learn an end-to-end methodology for qualitative research that is suited for understanding user needs. The methodology includes knowledge of semi-structured interviews, in-situ observation, and affinity walls. Be exposed to good practices for conducting semi-structured interviews, in-situ observation, and affinity walls. Gain some experience with semi-structured interviews, in-situ observations, and affinity walls.

What's included

3 videos6 readings3 assignments1 peer review2 discussion prompts

3 videosTotal 18 minutes

1.1 Introduction to User Needs Assessment8 minutes
1.2 Overview of Qualitative Research6 minutes
1.3 User Needs Assessment Mini-Project4 minutes

6 readingsTotal 60 minutes

Welcome Announcement10 minutes
Course Syllabus10 minutes
Help Us Learn More About You!10 minutes
Course Resources10 minutes
Mini-Project Assignment Handout10 minutes
Stop! Did you score a 70% on your first peer assessment?10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 23 minutes

Learn to Grade: Decide on a Mini-Project2 minutes
User Needs Assessment and Qualitative Research20 minutes
Peer Review 1 Self-Check1 minute

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Decide on a Mini-Project60 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Introduce Yourself10 minutes
Lesson 110 minutes

What's included

3 videos2 readings3 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt

3 videosTotal 20 minutes

2.1 Semi-Structured Interviews2 minutes
2.2 Components of an Interview Protocol7 minutes
2.3 Good Practices for Interview Protocols10 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Resource: Interview Protocol Template10 minutes
Interview Protocol Assignment Handout10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 22 minutes

Learn to Grade: Write an Interview Protocol2 minutes
Interview Protocols20 minutes
Peer Review 2 Self-Check0 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Write an Interview Protocol60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Lesson 210 minutes

What's included

5 videos2 readings2 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt

5 videosTotal 40 minutes

3.1 Sample Interview14 minutes
3.2 Tips for Interviewing10 minutes
3.3 Observing Users7 minutes
Sample Think-Aloud Protocol4 minutes
3.4 Extracting Data from Interview5 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

A Quick Note on the Upcoming Lecture10 minutes
Interview and Data Extraction Assignment Handout10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 21 minutes

Interviewing Tips20 minutes
Peer Review 3 Self-Check1 minute

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Data Extraction Exercise60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Lesson 310 minutes

What's included

2 videos2 readings2 assignments1 peer review1 discussion prompt

2 videosTotal 15 minutes

4.1 Analyzing Qualitative Data3 minutes
4.2 Affinity Walls12 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Affinity Wall Notes From the Previous Lecture10 minutes
Affinity Wall Assignment Handout10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 21 minutes

Affinity Walls20 minutes
Peer Review 4 Self-Check1 minute

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Affinity Wall Report Submission60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Lesson 410 minutes

What's included

2 videos3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

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Instructor

Kentaro Toyama

University of Michigan

2 Courses49,956 learners

Offered by

University of Michigan

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Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.