Presentation
Ready for Takeoff: Elevating Participant Training in Usability Studies
SessionPoster Session 1
DescriptionTraining participants prior to their study session is like preparing student pilots for their first solo flight. Every aspect of the pilot training process is intentional, structured, and consistent to ensure safety during every flight; training of users, and participants during usability studies, should operate the same way to ensure all users are set up for success.
There are a multitude of aspects to consider when planning participant training prior to a study:
Who should conduct training? A mechanic, while intimately familiar with the plane, would never train a pilot to fly. Similarly, engineers or other design team members aren’t ideal trainers as they may lack the clinical vocabulary and experience to accurately communicate concepts. While members of the design team might conduct training of participants in formative studies when training is still being developed, clinical trainers or marketing team members, who will conduct training to real-life users, are more ideal to train participants in summative studies.
What should be included in training? Obviously, flight school courses cover all aspects of flying a plane, but emphasis is no-doubt placed on the most life-threatening tasks. Similarly, all high-risk or critical tasks per the device’s risk documentation should be covered in training, especially if the task has no other mitigations. It can be tempting to include information related to all tasks, but the amount of time required for training should also be considered to avoid overwhelming users.
How should training be presented? Flight training includes classroom instruction, simulator practice and actual flight time. Similarly, presentations, demos, and hands-on use may be appropriate methods of training for device users. Training methods should meet the needs of the user group being trained and should be representative of the training method to be utilized once the device is commercialized. Certification or training should be considered to provide a means of addressing participants who would require additional training in the field, similar to pilots who must pass their licensing exam prior to their first solo flight.
How can training be made consistent between trainers? Every pilot has a pre-flight checklist with items they must complete before take-off. Even experienced pilots must use the checklist to ensure consistency and safety. Similarly, if trainers rely on their memory, training is more likely to become inconsistent, and content might be being missed. By completely a checklist for training, trainers can ensure their users are ready for their first solo flight using the device.
Pack your bags and secure your seatbelt low across your lap. By following the training best practices presented in this poster, you can ensure your users are ready for takeoff!
There are a multitude of aspects to consider when planning participant training prior to a study:
Who should conduct training? A mechanic, while intimately familiar with the plane, would never train a pilot to fly. Similarly, engineers or other design team members aren’t ideal trainers as they may lack the clinical vocabulary and experience to accurately communicate concepts. While members of the design team might conduct training of participants in formative studies when training is still being developed, clinical trainers or marketing team members, who will conduct training to real-life users, are more ideal to train participants in summative studies.
What should be included in training? Obviously, flight school courses cover all aspects of flying a plane, but emphasis is no-doubt placed on the most life-threatening tasks. Similarly, all high-risk or critical tasks per the device’s risk documentation should be covered in training, especially if the task has no other mitigations. It can be tempting to include information related to all tasks, but the amount of time required for training should also be considered to avoid overwhelming users.
How should training be presented? Flight training includes classroom instruction, simulator practice and actual flight time. Similarly, presentations, demos, and hands-on use may be appropriate methods of training for device users. Training methods should meet the needs of the user group being trained and should be representative of the training method to be utilized once the device is commercialized. Certification or training should be considered to provide a means of addressing participants who would require additional training in the field, similar to pilots who must pass their licensing exam prior to their first solo flight.
How can training be made consistent between trainers? Every pilot has a pre-flight checklist with items they must complete before take-off. Even experienced pilots must use the checklist to ensure consistency and safety. Similarly, if trainers rely on their memory, training is more likely to become inconsistent, and content might be being missed. By completely a checklist for training, trainers can ensure their users are ready for their first solo flight using the device.
Pack your bags and secure your seatbelt low across your lap. By following the training best practices presented in this poster, you can ensure your users are ready for takeoff!
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 234:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
LocationRhinelander Gallery
Medical and Drug Delivery Devices