Using On-line Learning Tools to Support Increased Engagement in Human Factors Courses: The Researcher Profile Assignment

摘要

The breadth of potential topics in a Human Factors course can make it difficult to tailorcourse material to student interests, a key factor in engaging students in the class. Thewide-spread adoption of on-line learning tools is creating new opportunities forinstructors to develop assignments that use collaboration and peer review to engagestudents in human factors classes. This paper describes the Human Factors ResearcherProfile assignment, an online, collaborative assignment for a senior undergraduate humanfactors class. Initial experience with the profile assignment has been promising; briefresults of a survey probing students’ experience with the assignment are presented, andlessons learned and opportunities for improvement are described.