Look up ‘ergonomics in education’ on Google and you’ll find plenty of references to sites offering information on training courses in ergonomics. But we’re interested in ergonomics in education from different viewpoints:
- The online teaching of ergonomics to young people: for this, the Institute set up a special project several years ago called Ergonomics 4 Schools, with its accompanying website at www.ergonomics4schools.com. We are currently planning the update of this site to include interactive elements.
- The inclusion of ergonomics teaching in the school syllabus in the UK: we are campaigning for ergonomics to be included in A level subjects such as Design & Technology.
- The application of ergonomics to educational environments:
- Educational furniture has always been a difficult issue. How do you design, or afford, furniture that fits children from 5 to 16 years of age so that it’s comfortable and doesn’t have any long-term harmful effect on their growing bodies? Chairs and desks have to be easy to move, easy to clean, and cheap to maintain. Some companies have now developed adjustable chairs and tables which fit these criteria.
- Ergonomics can be applied to teaching methods too. We might study the cognitive demands of different methods, for example, some children may learn more effectively through spoken instruction, others through the use of imagery and others through demonstration and practice. We would look at textbook design, use of language and concepts, and instruction techniques. Use of the internet and interactivity in teaching is almost universal in the UK and so teachers now need to take on the role of facilitators too. There are many more educational ‘tools’ at their disposal but these all require research and training, and ergonomists can help by carrying out needs analysis to find and fill gaps in knowledge and skills.
- Ergonomics can be applied to the school environment to ensure that it’s condusive to learning. For example, provision of adequate lighting, heating and ventilation, and the effective use of colour and space.
- Much research has been carried out into the design and use of backpacks by school children, and their effect on their developing musculoskeletal system. A major goal is to design a bag that children want to own and use properly.
A collaborative project to understand factors which effect the participation of pupils in the Building Schools for the Future Programme was completed in June 2009. The funding was used to support Coventry and Northampton Universities’ observations of the way and extent to which pupils were involved in the early stages of the design of their schools. The activities of 10 diverse schools in rural and urban areas around the two universities were analysed with a view to understanding and locating best practice. The project website includes guidelines for teachers, pupils and architects for involving children in school design.
There are many challenges to overcome if we are to educate people at an early age in the principles and practice of ergonomics and human factors. And for this education to be effective we need to try to create ergonomic environments for them to learn in.
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