Dr. Daisuke Aono (3rd-year doctoral student in the Ito Lab, Social System Management Research Area) received the Best Student Paper Award at the 17th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2026).

AHFE 2026 was held in Istanbul, Türkiye, July 20-24, 2026.

＊Reference: AHFE 2027（AHFE 2026 Best Paper Awards）

■Date Awarded
July 21, 2026

■Title 
A Stepwise, Ethnography-Informed Observational Learning Framework for Novice Learners: Implications from Undergraduate Medical Education

■Authors 
Daisuke Aono, Yasunobu Ito

■Abstract
This study explored how a stepwise, ethnography-informed observational learning framework, drawing on cultural anthropology, supports learning and meaning-making in the early phase of undergraduate medical education. The program combined preparatory lectures, field observation, a staged writing process, in which rapid notes served as scaffolding for learning through polished field notes, and reflection through sharing and comparison. Qualitative analysis focused on students' polished field notes and reflective writings, revealing a clear shift from fragmented, immediate observational records to structured, contextualized descriptions of clinical settings. Students attended to multiple layers of practice, including interpersonal interactions, actions, spatial organization, and medical tools. Through comparison with peers' observations, learners recognized the multiplicity of perspectives and reflected on the quality and communicability of their own descriptions. Questionnaire data further indicated increased interest in cultural anthropology and enhanced patient-centered perspectives following the program. These findings demonstrate the utility of this design model for supporting novices' contextual understanding and professional perspective formation in early clinical exposure. The study offers a transferable model for fostering insight into the human side of practice in other person-centered work environments.

■Comment
It is a great honor to receive the AHFE 2026 Best Student Paper Award. This research focuses on an educational practice of observational learning based on cultural anthropology and ethnography for early-year medical students at Kanazawa University. I am sincerely grateful to Professor Yasunobu Ito, my lab members, and everyone who cooperated in this research. This recognition encourages me to further advance my research.

October 19, 2026