Engaging Undergraduate Students Using Real-life Ergonomic Problems in the Introductory Ergonomics Course

Muhammad Pervej Jahan

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Conference: 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Publication Date: June 23, 2018
Start Date: June 23, 2018
End Date: July 27, 2018
Conference Session: Experiences in Manufacturing Engineering Education
Tagged Division: Manufacturing
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 15
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--30401
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/30401
Download Count: 1193

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biography

Muhammad Pervej Jahan Miami University

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Dr. Muhammad Jahan is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Miami University. His research interests include advanced manufacturing, lean manufacturing, micro- and nano-machining, SPM-based lithography and materials. Prior to joining at Miami, he worked as Assistant Professor at Western Kentucky University and as Research Associate at the Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering at University of Arkansas. He received his BS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and National University of Singapore respectively. He has published more than 60 papers in refereed journals and international conferences and contributed to books, and been involved in several internal and external funded research projects in these areas. He has received numerous research awards including 'Best Paper Award - ICAMT 2016', 'Best Paper Award - ATMAE 2014', ‘Outstanding Paper Award – NAMRC 2012,’ ‘A.M. Stickland Best Paper Award – IMechE, 2010,’ and ‘Most Downloaded Paper – Elsevier, 2010.’

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Abstract

Human factors and ergonomics (HF&E) has emerged as an important subject for engineering and technology disciplines, especially for Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering programs. However, most of the undergraduate engineering programs have just one introductory ergonomics class as a requirement for the degree. Therefore, it is challenging for the instructor to effectively engage the students in the course, as most of the students don’t have prior knowledge of human factors or ergonomics. This study presents some useful strategies of engaging undergraduate students in the introductory ergonomics class through specifically designed course assignments. The assignments have been designed based on the real life ergonomic problems in different areas of ergonomics. The students were challenged with five different assignments covering different sections of ergonomics, work design and safety. In addition, each student needs to submit a term paper or case study focusing on any specific application area of ergonomics towards the end of the semester. For each assignment, the students were asked to study and investigate the ergonomic issues from their daily life accessories, classrooms and laboratories and offer possible solutions for the non-ergonomic designs and issues. For each assignment, the students need to prepare a report including the image and brief description of the non-ergonomic design, explaining why the design is not ergonomic, and offering possible solution(s) to make the design/part ergonomic. Besides engaging the students, the assignment allowed the instructor to directly assess students’ learning of the concepts from the theory lectures. The students found the assignments interesting and were more engaged to the topic as those ergonomic examples relate to their daily life. The enthusiasm and interests of the students in those exercises were reflected in the course evaluation as well. It can be concluded that the exercises engaged students more intensively in the course and helped them to understand the applications of ergonomics. Finally, the assignments and final term paper/case study helped to achieve several learning outcomes defined for undergraduate engineering students by ABET.

Citation
Format

Jahan, M. P. (2018, June), Engaging Undergraduate Students Using Real-life Ergonomic Problems in the Introductory Ergonomics Course Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--30401

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Human factors and ergonomics (HF&amp;E) has emerged as an important subject for engineering and technology disciplines, especially for Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering programs. However, most of the undergraduate engineering programs have just one introductory ergonomics class as a requirement for the degree. Therefore, it is challenging for the instructor to effectively engage the students in the course, as most of the students don’t have prior knowledge of human factors or ergonomics. This study presents some useful strategies of engaging undergraduate students in the introductory ergonomics class through specifically designed course assignments. The assignments have been designed based on the real life ergonomic problems in different areas of ergonomics. The students were challenged with five different assignments covering different sections of ergonomics, work design and safety. In addition, each student needs to submit a term paper or case study focusing on any specific application area of ergonomics towards the end of the semester. For each assignment, the students were asked to study and investigate the ergonomic issues from their daily life accessories, classrooms and laboratories and offer possible solutions for the non-ergonomic designs and issues. For each assignment, the students need to prepare a report including the image and brief description of the non-ergonomic design, explaining why the design is not ergonomic, and offering possible solution(s) to make the design/part ergonomic. Besides engaging the students, the assignment allowed the instructor to directly assess students’ learning of the concepts from the theory lectures. The students found the assignments interesting and were more engaged to the topic as those ergonomic examples relate to their daily life. The enthusiasm and interests of the students in those exercises were reflected in the course evaluation as well. It can be concluded that the exercises engaged students more intensively in the course and helped them to understand the applications of ergonomics. Finally, the assignments and final term paper/case study helped to achieve several learning outcomes defined for undergraduate engineering students by ABET.
AU  - Muhammad Pervej Jahan
CY  - Salt Lake City, Utah
DA  - 2018/06/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Engaging Undergraduate Students Using Real-life Ergonomic Problems in the Introductory Ergonomics Course
UR  - https://strategy.asee.org/30401
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--30401
ER  -