|
PSY 410/505 Syllabus
Human Factors Page 1
COURSE INFO. DOCUMENT by: Gary Klatsky
Subject: Welcome!
Welcome to Human Factors, PSY 410./505 In this course you will learn the relationship between the study of psychology and the design of products that people interact with. We'll learn about some of the basics of human abilities and limitations. Then we will explore how those abilities affect the way we interact with products we routinely encounter. The part of the course that most students find very enjoyable is the class project we will work on. This project will allow you to apply the material that is covered in the class. If you haven't introduced yourself yet, be sure to do that soon. From the Course Map click on Meet Your Classmates. Tell us some interesting information about yourself. Check this area several times until you have "met" everyone in our class. My personal website is located at http://www.oswego.edu/~klatsky The first module is unlocked now, and you should start on the "Icebreaker" assignments as soon as possible. I will unlock each remaining module as it is due. Because the most important aspect of this course is student interaction, and I don't want anyone working ahead - I keep the modules locked until they are due to start. Since much of the material for this class is new there may be some errors and inconsistencies. For that reason I only have due dates for the assignments in the Course Schedule and Readings documents. If you come across anything you think is a mistake please either send me a note in your folder in the On Line Office Hours or send me an email and I'll look into it. It's important to keep up with the schedule but if you will have a conflict let me know before hand and we can work out an accomodation.The class project is something you should keep to the schedule. The other students in your group will be depending on you.
PSY 410/505 Syllabus
Human Factors Page 2
COURSE INFO. DOCUMENT by: Gary Klatsky
Contact Information
Instructor: Gary Klatsky, Ph.D.
Course Number: PSY 410/505
Semester: Fall 2004
Mailing Address:
Department of Psychology
State University of NY at Oswego
Oswego, NY 13126
How to contact me: Private communication should occur via your Private Folder.
Anything other than a private email should be posted in the appropriate course areas such as Talk with the Professor and the Question Area.
Phone: 315.312.3474
PSY 410/505 Syllabus
Human Factors Page 3
COURSE INFO. DOCUMENT by: Gary Klatsky
Subject: Important Dates to Remember Here are some dates for you to review and remember! Critical Dates to Remember for Oswego State University Fall 2004 Semester SLN Go Live Date Monday, August 23, 2004 Classes Begin Monday, August 30, 2004 Last day to Add Wednesday, September 9, 2004 Final Date to select Pass/Fail Thursday, September 9, 2004 Last day to Drop Tuesday, September 21, 2004 Course withdrawal period September 22 - October 29, 2004 Last Day of Classes December 10, 2004 Final Exams December 13-17, 2004 PSY 410/505 Syllabus Human Factors Page 4
COURSE INFO. DOCUMENT by: Gary Klatsky
Subject: PSY 410/505 Overview
Human Factors, PSY 410/505 will be very different than any other Psychology class you may have taken. In your other classes the goal was for you to understand some aspect of human behavior. Those aspects of human behavior may have included:
- Child development
- Perception
- Personality
- Social Psychology
- Cognition
- Motivation
You primarily studied research that permitted your understanding of those aspects of behavior. You also probably learned about research methodology applicable to the content area you were studying. In this course, Human Factors, that understanding of human behavior is an assumption. As I am aware how much is forgotten between semesters, there will be a brief review of the appropriate information. What we will focus on is what do we do with that information. Some of the things we will focus on are :
- Improving quality of life
- Making complex technology accessible
- Improving ordinary accessibility to people with disabilities or other limitations
The course will culminate with a project that will allow you to apply what has been learned in the class. Although the project may change to meet your interests, right now I am leaning towards designing a computer based information kiosk for shopping malls. Sit back, take a deep breath, get ready for some interesting work, and most of all enjoy the experience.
PSY 410/505 Syllabus
Human Factors Page 5
COURSE INFO. DOCUMENT by: Gary Klatsky
Subject: Course Objectives
1. Develop an understanding of Human Factors. Since this is a course in Human Factors it is important to understand what the course is about.
2. Develop an understanding of the human abilities that are important for interacting with technology. This is the review of the aspects of human abilities that are important in our interacting with the world.
3. Understand how the design of technology interacts with those human abilities. This is the flip side of number 2. How should the world be designed to take advantage of our abilities.
4. Learn about the tools and techniques that are used in assessing the usability of a product. As with any course you take, there are research methodologies, and other techniques specific to that discipline.
5. Apply what you have learned about Human Factors in a class based project. Since Human Factors is an application of different components of Psychology, the best way to learn about that topic is to take what you have learned and apply it.
PSY 410/505 Syllabus
Human Factors Page 6
COURSE INFO. DOCUMENT by: Gary Klatsky
Subject: Readings
There are two books assigned for Human Factors, PSY 410. Both are required.
Wickens, C. D, Gordon, S.E., & Liu, Y. (2004). An Introduction to Human Factors
Engineering (2nd Ed.). New York: Longman. ISBN 0-321-01229-1
The first edition of this book is also acceptible
Norman, D. A. (1990). The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Currency Doubleday.
ISBN 0-385-26774-6
You can obtain them through the SUNY Oswego bookstore and Kraftees' which is also located in Oswego. There are also a number of on-line bookstores you can use. I've listed some of the ones I am aware of. This list doesn't mean I am recommending any of these sources. When I reviewed these sites prior to constructing this list, Barnes and Noble was the only on-line site that had used books. You can also get used copies of the books from the Oswego bookstore and Kraftees'
Oswego College Store http://www.oswego.edu/other_campus/store/Textbooks/
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com
Varsity books http://www.varsitybooks.com
Classbooks http://www.classbooks.com
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com
PSY 410/505 Syllabus
Human Factors Page 7
COURSE INFO. DOCUMENT by: Gary Klatsky
|
