Abstract:

Interface design and systems ergonomics is one of the subjects in the field of computer science at the Lublin University of Technology. The main objectives of this course are to familiarize students with the basic problems of system ergonomics, with particular emphasis on software interfaces, and to prepare students to design an application interface and evaluate its quality. A very important issue is the acquisition by students of not only social competences during laboratory classes, but above all practical competences - the acquisition of specific practical skills. Therefore, the laboratory classes were organized in such a way that the program content was implemented through practical didactic tools: case studies, experimental research, thematic exercises and complex projects. The most important are projects that verify and present the effects of practical training in the field of skills - in the case of this laboratory, for example: the ability to design the correct application interface, organizing and conducting an experiment to assess the quality of the software interface or the analysis of existing interfaces in terms of ergonomics and quality. The projects require students to have thematic knowledge acquired during lectures, laboratories and independent study of research sources. For example: designing an interface require: the implementation of the analysis of the needs, tasks and activity of the user, modeling of the user's work, interface prototyping (sketches, mockups, storyboards). An inherent element is also the assessment of the interface quality, for example: heuristic assessment, cognitive walkthrough, expert method. Another project - an experimental study of the degree of short-term and long-term rememberability of websites - requires knowledge of, for example: KLM methods, WUP (Web Usability Points) metrics or Nielsen heuristics. Accordingly, knowledge and practice are one, where practice allows to verify the level of skills and logical thinking.

This article presents the implementation of practical training of students during the course Interface design and systems ergonomics. The effects of practical education, program content and competences after passing the laboratory are discussed. Presented is an overview of projects carried out by students, which are based on the issues of ergonomics of systems and software interfaces of various types. In addition, the correlation of student projects with the research work of the conducting laboratory classes and reference to current research approaches was indicated. Sample student projects were presented – interface design of a small application of any kind, website memorability and quality measurement design. Additionally, the most common difficulties, problems and errors in student projects were analyzed. The project-based approach to educating students is a proven and practical teaching method, the effects of which are quickly noticeable, measurable and identify the level of acquired practical skills by the student.

Keywords:

Interface design, systems ergonomics, students projects, practical training.