An Undergraduate Human Factors Workbook

Abstract

The Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) Department at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) requires undergraduate students to take two courses in human factors, with both courses possessing a laboratory requirement. In an effort to consolidate support materials for the undergraduate human factors courses, a supplemental workbook was developed. The workbook provides both the students and instructors with a varied selection of laboratory exercises and homework problems which are directly relevant to the material being covered in the lectures and laboratories. The workbook includes specific guidelines for the required laboratory format, a selection of laboratory exercises and homework problems, and appendices which include supplemental material related to the laboratory exercises and a large set of human factors references. The workbook has been very beneficial for instructors, for it provides an organized set of information which directly supports both the lecture and laboratory material. Questionnaire data obtained from students identified good features of the workbook, as well as areas which needed improvement.