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Learning observation skills by making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Conference proceeding

Learning observation skills by making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Juan Hourcade, Olga Garcia and Keith Perry
CHI '07 Extended Abstracts on human factors in computing systems, pp.1753-1758
CHI EA '07
04/28/2007
DOI: 10.1145/1240866.1240895

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Abstract

In this report we describe our experience conducting a class activity where students learned and practiced observation skills. In the activity, students in small groups observed and were observed making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The groups then used their observations to sketch designs for a peanut butter and jelly maker that they presented to the class. We found that the activity helped students learn about the difficulties involved in observing and being observed. It also taught them about the value of observing users, even if they are performing tasks familiar to the observer. Having international students in the class brought an additional perspective to the activity which benefited everyone. These students discussed the difficulty of observing experts conduct tasks that are unfamiliar to the observer. In spite of the overall positive outcome, we discuss ways of improving the activity given our experience.
diversity education human-computer interaction observation peanut butter and jelly sandwich sketching think aloud

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