The strategic use of CAD: an empirically inspired, theory-based course

ABSTRACT

The inefficient use of complex computer systems has been widely reported. These studies show the persistence of inefficient methods despite many years of experience and formal training. To counteract this phenomenon, we present the design of a new course, called the Strategic Use of CAD. The course aims at teaching students efficient strategies to use a computer-aided drafting system through a two-pronged approach. Learning to See teaches students to recognize opportunities to use efficient strategies by studying the nature of the task, and Learning to Do teaches students to implement the strategies. Results from a pilot experiment show that this approach had a positive effect on the strategic behavior of students who did not exhibit knowledge of efficient strategies before the class, and had no effect on the strategic behavior of those who did. Strategic training can thus assist users in recognizing opportunities to use efficient strategies. We present the ramifications of these results on the design of training and future experiments.

REFERENCES

• 1: Bhavnani, S. K. How Architects Draw with Computers: A Cognitive Analysis of Real-World CAD htteractions, unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, 1998, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh.
• 2: Bhavnani, S.K., Flemming, U., Forsythe, D.E., Garrett, J.H., Shaw, D.S., and Tsai, A. CAD Usage in an Architectural Office: From Observations to Active Assistance. Automation in Construction 5 (1996), 243- 255.
• 3: Suresh K. Bhavnani , Bonnie E. John, Exploring the unrealized potential of computer-aided drafting, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems: common ground, p.332-339, April 13-18, 1996, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada [doi>10.1145/238386.238538]
• 4: Suresh K. Bhavnani , Bonnie E. John, From sufficient to efficient usage: an analysis of strategic knowledge, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, p.91-98, March 22-27, 1997, Atlanta, Georgia, United States [doi>10.1145/258549.258615]
• 5: Suresh K. Bhavnani , Bonnie E. John, Delegation and circumvention: two faces of efficiency, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, p.273-280, April 18-23, 1998, Los Angeles, California, United States [doi>10.1145/274644.274683]
• 6: Stuart K. Card , Allen Newell , Thomas P. Moran, The Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., Mahwah, NJ, 1983
• 7: Cragg, EB. and King, M. Spreadsheet ModeliLng Abuse: An Opportunity for OR? Journal of the Operational Research Society 44 (1993), 743-752.
• 8: Doane, S.M., Pellegrino, J.W., and Klatzky, R.L. Expertise in a Computer Operating System: Conceptualization and Performance. Human-Computer Interaction 5 (1990), 267-304.
• 9: Flemming, U., Bhavnani, S.K., and John, B.E. Mismatched Metaphor: User vs. System Model in Computer-Aided Drafting. Design Studies 18 (1997), 349-368.
• 10: Luchins, A. S. Mechanization in Problem Solving. Psychological Monographs, (1942), 54 (248).
• 11: Erik Nilsen , HeeSen Jong , Judith S. Olson , Kevin Biolsi , Henry Rueter , Sharon Mutter, The growth of software skill: a longitudinal look at learning & performance, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, p.149-156, April 24-29, 1993, Amsterdam, The Netherlands [doi>10.1145/169059.169126]
• 12: Schoenfeld, A. H. Mathematical Problem Solving. New York: Academic Press, 1985.
• 13: Siegler, R.S., and Jenkins, E. How ChiMren Discover New Strategies. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, New Jersey, 1989.
• 14: Mark K. Singley , John R. Anderson, The transfer of cognitive skill, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1989

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Training, help, and documentation

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)

  J. Computer Applications

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Management, Theory

Keywords:
CAD, GOMS, efficiency, learning, strategy, training