MADT 240: Designing Human–AI Interaction, Open Educational Course Modules

Purpose: to help other instructors teaching the same course

Common Course ID:  MADT 240
CSU Instructor Open Textbook Adoption Portrait
Abstract: This open educational resource is being utilized in an undergraduate design and emerging technology course by Christine Eum at California State University, Chico. The resource supports MADT 498 / MADT 240: Designing Human–AI Interaction, a course focused on the design, evaluation, and ethical implications of AI-powered interactive systems through UI/UX and human-centered design approaches.

This OER consists of instructor-developed modular learning materials covering topics such as AI systems, human-centered AI design, trust and explainability, ethical AI, automation, and AI interaction prototyping. The materials include original instructional writing, case studies, design activities, discussions, reflections, and assignments designed specifically for undergraduate learners from interdisciplinary backgrounds.

The primary motivation for developing and adopting these OER materials was to improve accessibility, reduce financial barriers, and provide cohesive learning resources tailored to undergraduate human–AI interaction education. Most students in this course access the materials digitally through Canvas using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices in a fully online asynchronous learning environment.

Course Title and Number - MADT 240 Designing Human–AI Interaction: Instructor-Developed OER Course Modules
Brief Description of course highlights:  MADT 240: Designing Human–AI Interaction introduces students to the foundations of human–AI interaction through design thinking, ethics, UI/UX design principles, and prototyping practices. Students explore how AI systems function, how human values shape AI-powered interfaces, and how designers can create interactive systems that are usable, ethical, trustworthy, and socially responsible.

The course was initially developed and offered as MADT 498 (Special Topics) in Spring 2026 and transitioned into MADT 240 as an official catalog course beginning Fall 2026. The course was developed in response to the growing need for accessible undergraduate education focused on human-centered AI design rather than purely technical AI implementation.

Course highlights include:
- Human-centered AI and UX principles
- Large language models and generative AI
- Mixed-initiative interaction and shared control
- Trust, transparency, and explainability
- Ethical and societal implications of AI
- AI-powered tools in prototyping
- Critical analysis of real-world AI systems
- Responsible AI futures and design recommendations 

The course is delivered fully online and asynchronously through instructor-developed OER modules.

Student population: This course serves undergraduate students from a wide range of majors across the university and is designed as an accessible lower-division course with no prior AI or design experience required.

Students are expected to come from diverse disciplines such as: Communication Design, Computer Science, Sociology, Media Arts, Journalism, and many more. The course was intentionally designed to support interdisciplinary participation and to make AI concepts approachable for students from both technical and non-technical backgrounds

Learning or student outcomes:   Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Explain core concepts of human–AI interaction including AI systems, large language models, automation, and interaction paradigms, and relate them to real-world applications.
2. Apply human-centered design methods to AI-powered systems to identify problems, conduct research, and define meaningful design opportunities.
3. Design and prototype AI interactions that communicate user flow, system behavior, and interaction logic using appropriate tools and techniques.
4. Evaluate AI systems in terms of usability, trust, and human behavior including explainability, user perception, and the social role of AI.
5. Analyze ethical and societal implications of AI technologies and apply structured methods to identify risks such as bias, privacy concerns, and misinformation.
6. Develop and communicate responsible AI design solutions by synthesizing research, design, and ethical considerations into clear, evidence-based outcomes.

OER/Low Cost Adoption Process
Please provide an explanation or what motivated you to use this textbook or OER/Low Cost.  Human–AI Interaction is a rapidly emerging interdisciplinary field, yet there are still limited openly licensed educational materials that address the topic from a UI/UX and human-centered design perspective for undergraduate learners. Existing OER resources and library eBooks often focus primarily on technical implementation, computer science research, or abstract ethical theory, making them less accessible for students from diverse academic and non-technical backgrounds. This project was developed to bridge that gap by creating a cohesive, design-centered OER that introduces complex AI concepts through accessible language, applied design activities, real-world case studies, and ethical reflection, while also reducing textbook costs and improving educational accessibility for students.

How did you find and select the open textbook for this course?  The OER materials were developed through research into contemporary AI systems, human–AI interaction, UX/HCI frameworks, and AI ethics scholarship, alongside ongoing course redesign informed by classroom implementation and student engagement. The development process integrated current industry case studies, emerging AI-powered products, human-centered design pedagogy, and applied learning activities tailored for undergraduate students.

Sharing Best Practices: One important lesson learned throughout the development process is that AI-related educational content evolves extremely quickly, making flexibility and continuous revision essential. Using contemporary examples that students recognize can also make complex AI concepts feel more approachable and meaningful.

Describe any challenges you experienced, and lessons learned. Challenges during development included the rapid pace of change within AI technologies, the limited availability of existing interdisciplinary OER materials focused on human-centered AI design, and the need to balance conceptual depth with accessibility for students from non-technical backgrounds. Another important consideration was making AI tools and learning experiences accessible to students regardless of prior technical experience or ability to access paid software and platforms. Developing original modules, case studies, and activities also required significant time, continual updating of examples, and ongoing revision of ethical discussions as AI technologies evolved. At the same time, the flexibility of OER development allowed the course materials to remain highly responsive to both industry changes and student learning needs while supporting more inclusive and accessible learning opportunities.

Instructor Name - Christine Jinmin Eum
I am a Human-Computer Interaction Design and Communication Design professor at the California State University, ChicoPlease provide a link to your university page.
https://apps.csuchico.edu/directory/Employee/cjeum

Please describe the courses/course numbers that you teach.  I teach courses within the Department of Media Arts and Design and Technology, primarily in the areas of Communication Design and Human-Computer Interaction and Design (HCID), with a focus on UX/UI design and research. My courses introduce students to human-centered design methods while developing both conceptual thinking and hands-on digital product and visual communication skills. Across these courses, students engage in user research, interaction design, prototyping, information visualization, usability evaluation, and collaborative problem-solving through applied projects and design activities. Courses I regularly teach include Designing Human-AI Interaction, Advanced HCI Projects, Design Thinking, Information Design, Time-Based Media Design, Human Factors, and Digital Fundamentals. 

Describe your teaching philosophy and any research interests related to your discipline or teaching.   My teaching philosophy focuses on creating human-centered, inclusive, and applied learning experiences that encourage students to critically engage with design and technology while building creative confidence, ethical awareness, communication skills in design, and collaborative problem-solving abilities. Across courses in human-centered design, UX/UI design, graphic design, and human–AI interaction, I emphasize active learning, hands-on projects, reflection, and real-world application of design methods. My teaching and research interests include human–AI interaction, ethical design, UX/UI, accessibility, and the relationship between emerging technologies and society. Through this work, I aim to help students become thoughtful, adaptable, and socially responsible designers and technology users.

Textbook or OER/Low cost Title: MADT 240 Designing Human–AI Interaction: Instructor-Developed OER Course Modules

Brief Description:  This OER consists of original instructor-authored online modules developed specifically for a fully asynchronous undergraduate course on human–AI interaction. The published modules include Module 5: Prototyping AI-Powered Systems, Module 6: Prototyping with AI-Powered Tools, Module 9: AI As Social Actor, Module 10: Human Response to AI, and Module 14: Responsible AI & Societal Review. These modules combine original instructional writing, contemporary AI case studies, applied design exercises, ethical analysis frameworks, discussion prompts, reflection activities, and assignment-based learning experiences tailored for undergraduate students from interdisciplinary backgrounds. The pedagogical approach emphasizes human-centered learning, accessible interdisciplinary instruction, applied critical thinking, reflection and ethical reasoning, and creative engagement with emerging technologies. The materials were intentionally designed to remain flexible, adaptable, and continuously updateable as AI technologies and societal conversations surrounding AI continue to evolve.

Please provide a link to the resource  Canvas Commons: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/4cd70e2d08c0408abca4dbbb48b05afb?shared

Authors:  Christine Jinmin Eum

Student access:  Students access all course materials through the Canvas learning management system. Materials are optimized for digital access across laptops, tablets, and mobile devices in a fully online asynchronous learning environment.

Supplemental resources:

• Assignment: Early-Stage Prototype using LLM
• Assignment & Discussion: Building Interface Prototype with Figma Make
• Discussion: The Replicant Effect
• Discussion: Human Attachment and Design Responsibility- Redesigning Character.ai Interface
• Discussion: Designing the Truth- UX Strategies Against AI Misinformation
• Instructional Video: Prototyping with Figma Make

Provide the cost savings from that of a traditional textbook.  The estimated cost of these materials averages $150 per student, resulting in approximately $6,000 in annual savings if replaced with zero-cost, openly licensed materials. More importantly, the proposed OER will significantly improve accessibility, equity, and coherence of learning.

License*: The material is openly licensed CC BY-NC intended for educational use and adaptation