User Centered Design of Human Factors Class Projects

Abstract

Teaching introductory Human Factors at a small liberal arts college poses a number of unique problems in the development of projects that provide appropriate hands-on activities for students. Students may not have an understanding of what the course entails, and may not have the technological skills needed to conduct a human factors project. Selecting a project that involves the students personally is essential to a successful educational experience. Student access to the services and information located in the campus administration building was identified by the students as one of the critical problems on campus. Three groups of students from a human factors psychology course conducted assessments including a needs assessment, anthropometric evaluations, environment assessment, and task analysis leading to a design proposal. The proposals included furniture design, static displays and human computer interfaces. The students enthusiastically participated in the hands-on activity that provided a full range of human factors experience