From Theory to Empathy: Integrating Human-Centered Design and Lived Experiences in e-Health Engineering Education

Area of Science:

• Engineering Education
• Human-Centered Design (HCD)
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• The gap between technical engineering training and human-centered design (HCD) principles is a significant challenge.
• There is a need for pedagogical approaches that integrate user needs and empathy into engineering curricula, particularly for assistive technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an innovative, cross-disciplinary active-learning unit focused on e-health technologies for disability.
• To foster empathy, critical reflection, and an understanding of inclusive design principles among engineering students.
• To demonstrate the effective implementation of HCD approaches in designing technology solutions for disability.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an active-learning unit integrating experiential learning and immersive activities.
• Students engaged in team-based design projects focused on disability-related challenges.
• Inclusion of panel discussions with individuals with disabilities and evaluation by diverse panels including users.
• Emphasis on challenging ableist perspectives and fostering user-centered approaches.

Main Results:

• Students demonstrated enhanced empathy and a deeper understanding of inclusive design principles.
• The pedagogical model successfully integrated human-centered design (HCD) approaches into technical training.
• Student-designed technology solutions addressed specific disability-related challenges effectively.
• The active, user-integrated learning approach proved transformative for engineering education.

Conclusions:

• The developed pedagogical model effectively bridges the gap between technical training and human-centered design (HCD) in engineering education.
• This approach prepares future engineers to create inclusive and societally relevant technologies.
• Active learning and user integration are crucial for fostering empathy and effective design in engineering education.