Syllabus
Master of Science in Health Informatics
HIN 730 – Human Factors for System Development
Credits - 3
Description
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the most intricate and sophisticated computer system is only as useful as its users. This course examines computer and non-computer systems from the perspective of their users, exploring ways to improve user interfaces to facilitate effective interactions between human and system, and examining ways of helping to train and educate systems users to ease the stress of learning and adapting to new systems. Students practice combining ergonomics, psychology, sociology, and educational theory with interface design and systems thinking to design human-friendly interfaces and information systems.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Program Outcome addressed by this course:
- Apply technology and the healthcare quality framework to meet the goals of the triple aim of improving the patient experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of healthcare
- Analyze, evaluate, and apply the range of tools needed to implement new technology, including identifying, evaluating, selecting, implementing, and upgrading technological systems
Course Outcomes:
Upon the successful completion of HIN 730, students will be able to:
- Examine human factors as they pertain to health information technology
- Analyze how usability and human factors are affected by a systems approach
- Describe human and usability factors that go into system selection and design
- Explain the cognitive aspects that play a role in human-system interaction
- Analyze human interaction frameworks (HCI)
Assignments
Please note that all times in the syllabus and in Blackboard refer to Eastern Time. The discussion board and assignment links for each week will open at the start of the week for submissions.
Discussion Board Posts: These assignments will assess your ability to clearly and accurately apply concepts from your readings and from your own experiences. Each week you are expected to submit an initial post and comment on at least 2 other students’ posts. You need to follow APA guidelines for citing any sources you may reference in either your initial post or your response to others. Refer to the Discussion Rubric and discussion question for submission guidelines.
Initial post: You should submit your initial post by 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Your initial post should be approximately 500 words.
Response to others: You should comment on at least 2 other students’ posts by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Your comments to others should be thorough, thoughtful, and they should offer some new content. Do not merely respond with “I agree” or “I disagree.” Engage directly with the ideas of your classmates and briefly mention which part of the post you are responding to.
Key Assignments: The culminating project for this class is a 5 minute Ignite Presentation. The topic for the Ignite Presentation is an analysis of a healthcare technology tool/application. Each week (weeks 2 – 6) you will analyze the technology you have chosen as it relates to that week’s readings. In week 7 you will create your Ignite Presentation about that technology based on your analysis from the previous weeks.
Topic Choice for Final Project: In week 1 you will choose a technology tool or application that you will use as the basis for your weekly writings and final project. The technology you choose can be one that your are already familiar with, or not. However, choosing one you that you have some familiarity with may make things easier for you. Refer to the Topic Selection Rubric and assignment instructions for submission guidelines.
Weekly Assignments: In weeks 2 – 6 you will analyze your chosen technology, based on the weekly reading and write approximately 1.5 – 2 pages each week on the topics. Topics include:
- Macroergonomics Analysis
- Human Error Analysis
- Analysis of Challenges
- Usability Analysis
- Safety Problem Analysis
These weekly assignments will provide the content you will draw on to create your Final Project Ignite presentation. Refer to the specific assignment rubric and instructions for submission guidelines.
Final Project Ignite Presentation: In week 7, you will submit an Ignite Presentation about your chosen technology/application. An Ignite Presentation is 5 minutes in length, 20 slides, and 15 seconds of narration per slide. You will submit a screencast of your Ignite presentation, an APA formatted list of references used to create your presentation, and the script you used in your Ignite. You will use the information you compiled in the previous weeks to create your presentation. It is recommended that you review all information provided on Ignite presentations and begin your planning for this assignment early in the term. Refer to Ignite Presentation Rubric and assignment instructions for submission guidelines.
Final Reflection : In week 8 you will take a critical look at what you have learned in this course and write a short reflection paper. Refer to the Final Reflection Rubric and assignment instructions for submission guidelines.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assessment Item | Possible Points | Percent of Total Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Discussion Boards (8) | 32 (4 points per week) | 32% |
| Topic Choice for Final Project | 2 | 2% |
| Weekly Assignments (weeks 2-6) | 25 (5 points each) | 25% |
| Final Project Ignite Presentation | 35 | 35% |
| Final Reflection | 6 | 6% |
| Total | 100 | 100% |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Course learning modules are divided into weeks. Each week starts on Wednesday at 12:00 am Eastern Time (ET) and closes on Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET, with the exception of Week 8, which ends on Sunday. All assignments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on the due date.
Course Schedule
- Week 1: Jan 5 – Jan 12
- Week 2: Jan 12 – Jan 19
- Week 3: Jan 19 – Jan 26
- Week 4: Jan 26 – Feb 2
- Week 5: Feb 2 – Feb 9
- Week 6: Feb 9 – Feb 16
- Week 7: Feb 16 – Feb 23
- Week 8: Feb 23 – Feb 27
| Learning Modules | Topics | Assignments and Due Dates |
| Week 1 | Human Factors, Ergonomics, Role of Health IT |
Introductory Discussion Topic Choice for Final Project – Wednesday |
| Week 2 | Macroergonomics |
Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday Macroergonomics Analysis – Wednesday |
| Week 3 | Human Error and Medical Failure |
Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday Human Error Analysis Paper – Wednesday |
| Week 4 | Human Factors Analysis, Usability, and Human Factors to Consider When Designing/Selecting | Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday
Analysis of Challenges – Wednesday |
| Week 5 | User Experience, Usability | Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday
Usability Analysis – Wednesday |
| Week 6 | Clinical Decisions, Support Issues, Ubiquitous Computing Issues, Adoption Issues, Patient Safety Events | Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday
Safety Problem Analysis – Wednesday |
| Week 7 | Human-Computer Interaction Frameworks (HCI) | Discussion – Initial post by Sunday, responses by Wednesday
Final Project Ignite Presentation – Wednesday |
| Week 8 | Wrap-up and Reflection | Discussion – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
Final Reflection – Sunday |
Student Resources
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Attendance Policy
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.
Late Policy
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
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