oa Alternation - Ergonomic design of IT teaching laboratories

Abstract

African Universities and especially Historically Disadvantaged South African institutions use the traditional ""chalk-and-talk"" method of delivering practical computer lessons which are instructor led sessions conducted in laboratories. The design of laboratories has to be conducive to learning. Laboratories that are designed using ergonomic principles tend to be more user-friendly and facilitate the learning process. This raises the question: are University computer teaching laboratories ergonomically designed for the comfort of the student? In order to answer this question. this study was conducted at the University of KwaZulu Natal-Westville campus in the Department of Information Systems and Technology. A convenience sample of one hundred first year students was used. A simple questionnaire covering the main constructs of the study was administered to the students.