MEC8028 : Human Centered Design and Engineering
MEC8028 : Human Centered Design and Engineering
- Offered for Year: 2023/24
- Module Leader(s): Dr David Golightly
- Lecturer: Professor Roberto Palacin
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
Pre Requisite Comment
N/A
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
* To provide a comprehensive overview of the rationale, benefits and principles of human factors.
* To cover the major themes of human factors including physical factors, cognitive factors and organisational
factors.
* To present multiple design implications, considerations and methodologies that can be followed when designing
for a wide variety of people and applications.
* To present and discuss different scenarios where human factors considerations play a crucial role such as in
system safety, in human-automation cooperation and in delivering high levels of performance and system
resilience in domains such as transport, manufacturing and healthcare.
* To inform and provide a contemporary knowledge base on current trends and proven methods that support
designing for humans in any engineering design context.
Outline Of Syllabus
* Human factors: origins, rationale and benefits
* Systems perspectives on human performance
* Physical, cognitive and organisational aspects of human factors
* Human-computer interaction relevant to engineering and engineered systems
* Design for all, accessibility and EDI
* Obtaining, Capturing, measuring and use of anthropometric data to inform design
* Cognitive methodology for workload, situation awareness and human-computer interaction / User Experience
* Human-automation integration, for machine intelligence and for robotics
* Human role in safety, including human perspectives on accidents and incidents
* Complex work systems - describing complexity for human integration into engineered systems
* Applied Ergonomics: Industrial and consumer ergonomics / Transport ergonomics and user-base design issues
* Data gathering and project management
Learning Outcomes
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
By the end of this Module students will be able to:
* Include the “user/operator/customer” as the fundamental starting point for the design of devices and systems
by coupling the product’s features to user needs, abilities and limitations
* Critically identify and evaluate the main implications of cognitive, mental, physical and environmental
factors and constraints when designing for humans
* To apply a user-centred design process and identify and effectively deploy the most suitable techniques when
designing for: reliability, usability, safety, user satisfaction to best meet the initial product/system
specifications.
Intended Skill Outcomes
By the end of this Module students will be able to:
* Describe the reasons for taking a human factors / user-centered approach
* Determine and demonstrate how physical, mental, cognitive and behavioural limits can be incorporated as design
parameters
• Understand key issues for human factors such as automation, system safety and complexity
• To identify potential sources of risks and reliability issues and generate alternatives that mitigate these by
applying relevant strategies
• To incorporate human systems thinking into case study analysis and development projects
• To be able to identify and apply appropriate methods relevant implement human factors within a project
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | CANVAS based timed assessment |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | 2-weekly lectures |
Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 1 | 6:00 | 6:00 | Independent working time from topic briefing to practical submission |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 4 | 3:00 | 12:00 | Weekly PiP Labs: 1)UCD, Displays design, 2)Anthropometry 1+2, 3)Transport ergonomics |
Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 4 | 9:00 | 36:00 | Off-line Canvas reading materials and non sync exercises |
Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 3 | 4:00 | 12:00 | Necessary for the weekly task submissions |
Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 2 | 5:00 | 10:00 | Canvas reading lists for project support |
Guided Independent Study | Project work | 4 | 9:00 | 36:00 | Project self -study hours available via CANVAS activities |
Guided Independent Study | Project work | 3 | 12:00 | 36:00 | Independent study hours expected for project work |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | 1 weekly drop-in surgery |
Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 20 | 2:00 | 40:00 | Revision of Lecture material, practical self-study and additional reading for Exam |
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Module briefing |
Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures are intended to promote an appreciation of the various implications of ‘designing for humans’ and developing set of skills that can be applied to topical issues and case studies in design and ergonomics.
Group-projects, where students identify the most critical knowledge and information relevant to a pre-assigned case and apply it to develop specific solutions within the engineering design and ergonomics space.
Practicals, where students are given specific contents to review ‘online’ which are then solved and reinforced in a group-based session with a member of staff acting as facilitator.
Reading Lists
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Digital Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 50 | Exam covering all elements of the syllabus |
Other Assessment
Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 50 | A portfolio of practical submissions |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Digital Examination | 2 | M | Canvas quiz on Human Factors fundamentals. End of Week 26 (Module Week 1) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
*The examination is used to assess knowledge, independent learning and understanding of material and the ability to integrate this material, to communicate it clearly, and to demonstrate critical thinking in relation to a short case example in engineering, design or operations.
*The Group-based practical Lab report allows for discussion of options and group justification of the selected case studies, methodologies and results. The assessment will involve producing one singe Team report following a template discussed in class.
The team will use a peer-evaluation system to distribute the final marks according to their performance.
For the purposes of professional body accreditation, in order to obtain a passing mark overall for this module (50%) at the first attempt the minimum acceptable mark for each of the assessment items specified below shall be 35%, with the maximum possible module overall mark where this is not the case being restricted to 40%: (1) 50% Exam (2) 50% Assignments (Combined)
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MEC8028's Timetable
Past Exam Papers
- Exam Papers Online : www.ncl.ac.uk/exam.papers/
- MEC8028's past Exam Papers
General Notes
N/A
Welcome to Newcastle University Module Catalogue
This is where you will be able to find all key information about modules on your programme of study. It will help you make an informed decision on the options available to you within your programme.
You may have some queries about the modules available to you. Your school office will be able to signpost you to someone who will support you with any queries.
Disclaimer
The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2023 academic year.
In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.
Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2024/25 entry will be published here in early-April 2024. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.