OCHS13008 - Human Factors CQ26

Showing: 2026 HE Term 1
General Information

Unit Synopsis

This advanced level unit examines relationships between the worker, their equipment and work environment. A team problem solving approach is used to assist learners in their discovery of the physical and cognitive realms of work. Topics covered include work physiology, manual handling and anthropometry; work organisation issues, for example, shift work and work load; equipment and job design parameters which promote cognitive compatibility. Case studies are used to help learners challenge their current understandings of the way complex systems are designed and used. It is a requirement of this unit to have efficient and regular access to the CQU website and the internet.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 3
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites There are no pre-requisites for the unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2026


Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Group Discussion 10%
2. Portfolio 40%
3. Written Assessment 10%
4. Written Assessment 40%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2013 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 74.19% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 67.39% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Via Moodle site.
Feedback:
 Short video or podcast to be provided.

Recommendation:
 Enhance the course with a short podcast or video to introduce each weekly topic.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Source: Moodle site.
Feedback:
 Enhance assessment item scope and detail.

Recommendation:
 The assessment items for this course will be enhanced to provide better scope and understandings. The major team project and reflective journal will be revamped.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Source: Course material
Feedback:
 Readings will be clearly marked as 'required' or 'optional'

Recommendation:
 The readings will be learning indicated to be 'required' readings or 'optional' readings.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. apply knowledge of anthropometric variation of the human body in relation to work station design
  2. discuss the concepts of work capacity and limitation
  3. assess the physical work environment including thermal, visual, aural and vibration
  4. evaluate the efficacy of job design in relation to psychological considerations including attention, awareness, memory, biorhythms and shiftwork
  5. apply the knowledge gained of perception and information processing in the assessment of equipment design
  6. develop team work skills that will build confidence and make you a more effective team member in projects in which you will be involved
  7. develop a detailed design of a system that will meet the problem definition that the team has identified, which is sound both from a technical and human factors perspective
  8. provide basic awareness of the engineering discipline and its link to your own
  9. develop reflective practice
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 - Group Discussion • • • • • • • • •
2 - Portfolio • • • •
3 - Written Assessment • • •
4 - Written Assessment • • • • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 - Communication • • • • • • • • •
2 - Problem Solving • • • • • • • • •
3 - Critical Thinking • • • • • • • • •
4 - Information Literacy • • • • • • • • •
5 - Team Work • • • •
6 - Information Technology Competence • • • • • • • • •
7 - Cross Cultural Competence • • • • • • • • •
8 - Ethical practice • • • • • • • • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10