Hands-on Human Factors and Ergonomics Education

Abstract

Teaching an introductory course in Human Factors and Ergonomics presents a number of opportunities to have the students participate in a variety of hands-on labs and projects. The students participate in a variety on hands-on activities that provide a range of human factors and ergonomic experiences. Having the students select a project that is of interest to them, and allowing them to actively participate in that project is essential to the educational experience. Since this is an introductory course the sophomore engineering students may not initially have the a clear understanding of what human factors and ergonomics are. Furthermore each student brings with them different levels of maturity, interest, and motivation. The challenge is to make course materials accessible to all students, and to be responsive to individuals who are having difficulty integrating the new material without boring others. I believe that learning can and should be fun, and that students who are active participants learn more than those who are passive.