Bi9100 Ergonomics and Applied Anthropology

Faculty of Science
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Recommended Type of Completion: z (credit). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Martin Čuta, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
doc. RNDr. Mgr. Miroslav Horák, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Martin Čuta, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Mgr. Martin Čuta, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 1. 3. to Fri 14. 5. Wed 13:00–14:50 online_B2; and Mon 17. 5. 10:00–11:50 Bp1,01007, 13:00–14:50 Bp1,01007, Tue 25. 5. 10:00–11:50 Bp1,01007, Wed 26. 5. 13:00–14:50 Bp1,01007
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The overall purpose of the course is to integrate interdisciplinary anthropological knowledge from biological and social/cultural anthropology and to apply it in commercial fields. The student should be able to use anthropological expertise in these areas: ergonomics, human factors, application of anthropology knowledge base in addiction treatment in different parts of the world. Special attention will be paid the subdiscipline of ergonomics and human factor; the students will familiarize with the goals, specializations and basic as well as advanced methods. The whole course is oriented toward practical tuition – the students will elaborate short case studies and mini-projects from areas of applied physical, social and cultural anthropology to better prepare them to thrive in the commercial sphere. Study materials (PDF) addressing the influence of stress on the organism (human body) and its evaluation will be made available to the students. The materials include biological mechanism of stress effects, including stress effects on the neural system etc.). The text will be available to all students via Department of Anthropology website. Practical classes (evaluation of cognitive capabilities, special ergonomics-dynamometry) will include a measuring device to assess skin conductivity and heart-rate and NeuroSky MindWave Mobile 2 -brain activity recording device. To assess the recorded physiological activity signal a dedicated original software was developed - with the goal to analyze the biological signal output and stress levels. To improve the chances of graduates to succeed in the labor market this course is taught in English.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course the student should be able to use anthropological expertise in the commercial sector, especially in the area addiction treatment and to be familiar with basic and specialized diagnostic methods of ergonomics. He/she should be able to use basic methods of social, psychological, IT and biological sciences in the paradigm of applied anthropology (implemented in addiction treatment and also in a specific-developing discipline termed HCI – human computer interaction). The student should be proficient in basic methods of ergonomics (metric and visual/recording) used in human locomotor system health risk (caused by repeated work- or non-work-related activity and load) diagnostics, including testing cognitive, manipulation and strength capacities.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction. Applied anthropology in the field of drugs and addiction (methods, models and trajectories) 2. Drug addiction treatment with traditional Amazonian medicine 3. Effectiveness of drug addiction treatment in the intercultural perspective 4. Intersection between applied and visual anthropology (the case study of "Takiwasi: The House of Healing") 5. Ergonomics and human factors. Specifics of non-academically oriented approaches/methods. 6. Case studies/mini-project: ergonomics and human factors. 7. Case studies/mini-project: work process optimalization design 8. HCI – human computer interaction. Evaluating the requirements and preferences of the hardware/software users. 9. Case studies/mini-project: optimizing the product to the requirements of the user. 10. Evaluation of cognitive functions and abilities. Skin conductivity and heart-rate measurement. Brain activity recording with use of NeuroSky MindWave Mobile 2 and dedicated software to analyze physiological responses. 11. Special ergonomics: manipulation capabilities of the human hand. Brain activity recording with use of NeuroSky MindWave Mobile 2 and dedicated software to analyze physiological responses. 12. Special ergonomics: dynamometry. Skin conductivity and heart-rate measurement.
Literature
  • HAVILAND, William A. Cultural anthropology (Souvis.) : Instructor's manual to accompany Cultural anthropology, eighth edition : Study guide and workbook to accompany Cultural anthropology, eighth edition. info
  • A handbook of economic anthropology. Edited by James G. Carrier. Northhampton, MA: Edward Elgar, 2005, xvi, 584. ISBN 1845429524. info
  • GILBERTOVÁ, Sylva and Oldřich MATOUŠEK. Ergonomie : optimalizace lidské činnosti. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada, 2002, 239 s. ISBN 8024702266. info
Teaching methods
Theoretical preparation in form of online lectures, complemented with commented multimedial presentations (video etc.) and e-learning methods. Theoretical lectures alternate with online practical training classes/mini-project sessions. At the end of the semester four weeks of block classes will be included (current epidemiological situation permitting) where problems/projects requiring physical presence will be addressed.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded by a combined written exam, which includes a test and protocols from the in-semester mini-projects. One part of the credit is formed by a seminar paper (see Teachers instruction below). To pass successfully the test, the students need to prove sufficient knowledge acquired during the semester. Based on epidemiological situation the exam may have a form of either online or contact form.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
Seminar paper requirements: All course participants are obliged to write a seminar paper and submit it in PDF till May 28, 2021 here: https://bit.ly/3kfMEhU. The paper may be composed in 3 ways: 1. original scientific paper on a selected topic (containing title, abstract, keywords, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions, references) 2. review of any article saved here: https://bit.ly/2P33mWi 3. research proposal (containing stakeholders, description of the action, budget, logical framework matrix, results, outputs) The paper has to have from 3 to 5 standard pages (1800 characters with spaces/page) except references. The references has to be formatted using the APA 7th Ed. citation style. The seminar paper will be evaluated using the criteria listed below. * grammar errors * errors in terminology * formatting errors * errors in citations * factual errors The maximum total score for the seminar paper is 50 points.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
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