Next-Generation HCI Education: Innovative Pedagogy, Validated Assessment, and Global Perspectives

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) education is changing in response to new technologies and shifting social expectations. As digital systems become part of everyday life, the need for well-trained HCI professionals continues to grow. At the same time, HCI curricula, teaching methods, and assessment practices vary widely across institutions and countries. This makes it difficult to compare outcomes, share good practice, and ensure that learners develop core knowledge and skills. Research also points to a shortage of well-tested, reusable rubrics and assessment tools, particularly for areas such as ethics, accessibility, responsible design, and cultural awareness. In addition, the use of real-world projects and cross-disciplinary perspectives in HCI education remains uneven. There is still a need for teaching approaches that connect core HCI theory with practical application. This includes areas such as game design, development, and player experience, which provide strong examples for teaching interface design, onboarding, accessibility, evaluation methods, and user experience.This Research Topic aims to strengthen the study and practice of HCI education by bringing together work on curricula, assessment, and teaching methods that can support learners across different settings. We welcome contributions relevant to all levels of education, from K–12 to higher education and professional training. Submissions may address questions such as: Which teaching approaches are most effective for introducing HCI concepts, methods, and ethics? How can rubrics and other assessment tools be used to evaluate student learning in areas such as responsible design, privacy, and accessibility? How do institutions adapt HCI teaching to local, cultural, or industry needs, and which lessons may be useful more broadly? We particularly welcome work that connects educational practice with real-world application, professional needs, and social relevance, including studies that draw on game development, player experience research, and interactive media as settings for HCI teaching.This collection is being developed in connection with The 12th International Conference on Human and Science (12JIHC’26) and is intended to support continued discussion beyond the conference. Extended versions of conference papers are welcome for consideration, provided they fall within the scope of the Research Topic and include clear development beyond the published proceedings. Authors considering this route are encouraged to consult the Author Guidelines at the bottom of the conference webpage for further information on the requirements for submitting extended versions of proceedings papers.This Research Topic is broad in scope, but all submissions should clearly relate to HCI education and training. We welcome comparative, multi-institutional, and international studies, as well as work on teaching practice, assessment, educator development, and collaboration across disciplines and stakeholder groups. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:- Pedagogy and curriculum design across educational levels and disciplines- Cross-disciplinary and integrated coursework in HCI programs- Assessment strategies and rubrics for HCI competencies- Ethics, accessibility, and social impact in HCI education and assessment- Digital tools and teaching methods for HCI education- Educator training, support, and evaluation of program outcomes- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the HCI classroom- Global and cross-cultural perspectives, including remote and distributed learning- Industry-academia partnerships and the use of real-world projects- Video games in HCI education- Game design, development, and player experience as areas of HCI research- Video games as case studies for interface design, onboarding, and player-centered UX- Player experience research, including engagement, flow, frustration, and accessibility in game interfaces- Game jams and rapid prototyping as teaching methods in HCI and interaction design courses- Accessibility and inclusive design in games for diverse player groups- Game development pipelines as settings for teaching user-centered design and evaluation methods Topic editors: Cesar Collazos, Philippe Palanque, Felipe Besoain Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79914/next-generation-hci-education-innovative-pedagogy-validated-assessment-and-global-perspectives