winter 2010
CS294H: Social Software
Tuesdays 3:15pm - 4:15pm and Thursdays 3:15pm - 5:05pm, Econ 140
Many of the most successful web applications are social, including personalized services and social networks. You will learn the fundamental interface, systems, and algorithms concepts in designing social software. You will contribute to this burgeoning field through a quarter-long, team-based project. You are highly encouraged to enter the class with an initial project idea.
Each week will feature a balance of instruction and hands-on design. A one-hour lecture and discussion section will focus on both design principles and real-world experiences building social systems. Studio sessions will focus on the collaborative design and development of new social software systems.
Students in this course are encouraged to attend CS547, the HCI seminar, on Fridays from 12:50 - 2:00pm.
Final Project Presentations will be held Thursday, March 18, 12:15-3:15pm in Econ 140.
Studio: Submit homework, view others' work, and see your grades at this link. Use your SUNet Username / Password to log in.
syllabus overview
| Tuesday (Lecture) | Thursday (Studio) | |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 |
Jan 5 Introduction |
Jan 7 Project Idea DUE: Assignment 1 |
| Week 2 |
Jan 12 Design Critiques DUE: Assignment 2 |
Jan 14 Storyboards & Prototypes DUE: Assignment 3 |
| Week 3 |
Jan 19 Conversation & Media Effects DUE: Assignment 4, Part I |
Jan 21 Design Documents & Testing Results DUE: Assignment 4, Part II |
| Week 4 |
Jan 26 Identity & Reputation |
Jan 28 One-on-One Meetings DUE: Assignment 5 |
| Week 5 |
Feb 2 Community Growth & Virality |
Feb 4 Engineering Meeting DUE: Assignment 6 |
| Week 6 |
Feb 9 Networks & Community Dynamics |
Feb 11 Engineering Meeting DUE: Assignment 7 |
| Week 7 |
Feb 16 Incentives |
Feb 18 Alpha Release DUE: Assignment 8 |
| Week 8 |
Feb 23 Play |
Feb 25 Beta Release DUE: Assignment 9 |
| Week 9 |
Mar 2 Evaluation |
Mar 4 Launch! DUE: Assignment 10 |
| Week 10 |
Mar 9 Recommendation & Personalization |
Mar 11 Testing Results DUE: Assignment 11 |
| Finals Week | Mar 18, 12:15-3:15pm Final Presentations |
reading
Each week you will be responsible for reading one or more papers. We will have multiple readings in the first two weeks as we ramp up the course and you begin the first stages of your project. Starting with week 3, we will average around 1 paper per week. Read the required paper(s) before class on Tuesday — it will be vital to your participation in lecture. Be prepared to share your thoughts and critiques of the readings in class.
reading response
For weeks 3-9, you will be responsible for submitting a short response to the required reading. Your response should describe one concrete project design idea derived from the readings. Your idea might be a software feature (such as a new mechanism for facilitating social interaction in your project) or design recommendation (e.g., how you might avoid a pitfall identified or implied by the readings). The write-up should be no more than 4 sentences. The first sentence should summarize the idea as clearly and concisely as possible.
Responses must be submitted by noon on Tuesday to the course submission site. Again, responses are required each week for weeks 3-9. To accommodate external deadlines, you may elect to take a "pass" once during those weeks. Each response contributes 15 points towards your final score in the course.
requirements & grading
Prerequisites:
- CS108 or equivalent programming experience
- Working knowledge of web application (e.g., PHP, Rails, Django) or mobile platform (e.g., iPhone) development is recommended.
- CS147 recommended
Attendance and participation in class is mandatory.
Grading: Each assignment is graded out of a set amount of points (these can be seen on each assignment's page). These points, combined with class/studio participation (75 points), add up to a total of 1000 points.
late work & absence policy
No late assignments will be accepted, but you may submit them early.