Computer Graphics and Human - Computer Interaction at the University of Zaragoza , Spain

This paper stems from the educational experience of the Research and Development (R+D) Advanced Computer Graphics Group (GIGA), which belongs to the Computer Systems and Languages Area of the Computer and System Engineering Department of the University of Zaragoza. The teaching activity focuses basically on Computer Engineering in relation to the group of subjects collectively known as Computer Graphics and on the subject of Human-Computer Interaction. The Computer Graphics group consists of three subjects. First, Computer Graphics, which describes the basis of synthetic image generation. Second, Geometric Modeling, which determines the shape of objects by means of mathematical and algorithmic model-description. And finally, Visual Modeling and Animation, which is concerned with the visual appearance of objects and their kinematics and dynamics. Human-Computer Interaction, on the other hand, provides insight into the design process of user-centered interactive systems. The lecturing of Computer Graphics group subjects is based on the learning methodology of problem-solving. Human-Computer Interaction, however, is taught following the behaviorist paradigm which, due to its informative nature, is based on master classes. The paper sets forth a general overview of our didactic approach to the fore-mentioned subjects, developing their aims, teaching methodology and assessment system. Also shown are their contents, practical sessions, evaluation of students’ performance, comparison with other curricular proposals, analysis of the academic results and recommended bibliography. Finally, few conclusions resulting from our teaching experience involving these subjects have been formulated.