Ergonomic factors and student learning

The author reports a survey of computer users in a department of business studies in a college of further education. The survey addressed the human factors problems attendant on computer usage and revealed that 80% of students had experienced problems. Follow-up discussions with students and teachers highlighted a general lack of understanding of the pertinent human factors issues and of realistic preventive measures. These findings are a source of concern since human factors aspects are central to such business courses. Moreover, such findings may have more widespread significance: there may be implications for all teachers involved with computers and for the content of computer-based education curricula. The results show that ergonomic problems are more common than might be imagined, that ergonomic principles are not understood by teachers or students, and the subject is seldom properly emphasised in the syllabus.