Master Cognitive Ergonomics: Online Course by IIT Roorkee Prof. MK Asthana
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 195 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 4 weeks |
| Categories | Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit Points | 1 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 16 Feb 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 27 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 24 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Cognitive Ergonomics: Designing for the Human Mind
In our increasingly complex technological world, the success of any product, system, or workspace hinges on one critical factor: how well it aligns with the human mind. This is the domain of Cognitive Ergonomics, a field dedicated to optimizing the interaction between people and their professional environments by understanding human cognitive capabilities and limitations.
For students and professionals in design, engineering, psychology, and related fields, mastering cognitive ergonomics is no longer optional—it's essential. A new, comprehensive 4-week course, led by Prof. MK Asthana of IIT Roorkee, offers a deep dive into this fascinating discipline, providing the tools to analyze, evaluate, and create human-centric designs.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. MK Asthana
Prof. MK Asthana is a distinguished cognitive psychologist at IIT Roorkee whose research sits at the cutting edge of human factors design. His work integrates psychological, physiological, affective, and cognitive perspectives to understand how people interact with technology and their environments.
His current research focuses on the pivotal role of human cognitive abilities in product usage and investigates cognitive limitations in problem-solving and decision-making. Prof. Asthana employs a diverse toolkit for his empirical work, including behavioural studies, physiological measurements, cognitive experiments, affective analysis, and immersive virtual reality, ensuring his teachings are grounded in robust, multi-method research.
Course Overview: What You Will Learn
This 4-week course is structured to transform your understanding of human-centered design. It is intended for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students across disciplines like design, engineering, psychology, and computer science.
Prerequisites: A basic knowledge of sketching, machine tasks, user interface analysis, and critical thinking from user/designer perspectives is beneficial. You will need a computer, pencil, sketch pens, and A4 sheets.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped to:
- Design work environments based on human capabilities and limitations.
- Create intuitive, user-friendly interfaces by applying core Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) principles.
- Understand and mitigate human error in professional settings.
- Implement strategies for cognitive safety and risk management in complex systems.
Detailed Course Layout
| Week | Core Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to Cognitive Ergonomics: Foundational concepts, human cognitive abilities, skills, and their impact on design. |
| Week 2 | Human-Computer Interaction & Usability: Principles of HCI, designing for usability, and evaluating user interfaces. |
| Week 3 | Human Error Theory: Understanding the nature, causes, and classifications of human error, and designing systems to prevent or mitigate mistakes. |
| Week 4 | Cognitive Safety and Risk Management: Strategies to manage cognitive load, enhance decision-making, and ensure safety in high-risk, complex environments. |
Essential Reading & Resources
To complement the course material, Prof. Asthana recommends several foundational texts that are cornerstones in the field:
- The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
- Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics by Gavriel Salvendy
- An Introduction to Human Factors Engineering by Christopher D. Wickens et al.
Industry Relevance & Career Impact
The skills acquired in this course are in high demand across numerous sectors. Industries that will value this expertise include:
- Safety Enhancement: Aviation, healthcare, nuclear, and automotive industries.
- User-Interface (UI/UX) Design: Tech companies, software development, app design, and web development.
- Product Transformation & Development: Consumer electronics, industrial design, and smart device manufacturing.
Understanding cognitive ergonomics empowers you to be the bridge between technology and humanity, creating systems that are not only efficient but also safe, intuitive, and a pleasure to use. Enroll in this course to start designing with the human mind at the center of your process.
Enroll Now →