Biomedical Engineering Students Gain Design Knowledge and Report Increased Confidence When Continually Challenged with Integrated Design Projects

2014 ◽

Vol 2 (10) ◽

pp. 54-65

Author(s):

Vincent Chang

Keyword(s):

Engineering Education ◽

Biomedical Engineering ◽

Multinational Corporation ◽

Engineering Students ◽

Internet Technology ◽

Computer Engineering ◽

University Of Michigan ◽

Design Projects ◽

Industrial Strength ◽

Capstone Design

With a growing need to reform Chinese higher engineering education, University of Michigan—Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (JI) initiated multinational corporation-sponsored industrial-strength Capstone Design Projects (CDP) in 2011. Since 2011, JI has developed 96 corporate-sponsored CDPs since its inception, which include multinational corporation sponsors such as Covidien, Dover, GE, HP, Intel, NI, Philips, and Siemens. Of these projects, healthcare accounts for 27%, energy 24%, internet technology (IT) 22%, electronics 16%, and other industries 11%. This portfolio reflects the trends and needs in the industry, which provides opportunities for engineering students to develop their careers. An accumulated 480 JI students have been teamed up based on their individual backgrounds, specifically electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering. The corporate-sponsored rate grew from 0% in 2010 to 86% in 2014.

Download Full-text

A DESIGN-CENTERED LABORATORY CURRICULUM FOR FIRST-YEAR BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS

Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA) ◽

10.24908/pceea.vi0.13753 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Gabrielle Lam

Keyword(s):

Experiential Learning ◽

Student Performance ◽

Biomedical Engineering ◽

Engineering Students ◽

First Year ◽

Learning Approach ◽

Laboratory Course ◽

Structured Design ◽

Survey Results ◽

Design Projects

A new first-year biomedical engineering laboratory course was created using a problem-based learning approach. Centered on four semi-structured design projects and experiments, the laboratory course was designed to facilitate meaningful experiential learning. Preliminary analyses of survey results suggest that the semi-structured nature of lab activities is viewed both positively and negatively by students, depending on their perception of preparedness for the project. Its correlation with student performance will be better understood with thorough study of other components of survey results.

Download Full-text

Impact Of Vertically Integrated Design Projects On First Year Engineering Students

10.18260/1-2--13352 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Edward Evans ◽

H. Michael Cheung ◽

Rex Ramsier ◽

Francis Broadway ◽

Sandra Spickard Prettyman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Engineering Students ◽

Integrated Design ◽

First Year ◽

Design Projects

Download Full-text

Toying With Engineering: Teaching Engineers to Be Entrepreneurial by Developing a Toy

Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy ◽

10.1177/25151274211029010 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 251512742110290

Author(s):

Smitesh Bakrania

Keyword(s):

Engineering Students ◽

Business Case ◽

Stem Fields ◽

The Past ◽

Middle Schoolers ◽

Assembly Instructions ◽

Design Projects ◽

Product Assembly ◽

Engineering Concept

Most engineering design projects focus primarily on the engineering fundamentals. Studying the business case or manufacturability of a design is often left for other courses, if at all. To address this gap, an existing mechanical engineering course project was modified by embedding the interdependent entrepreneurial dimensions. In the past, junior engineering students developed a reciprocating air engines over two semesters. The modified project extended the engineering fundamentals into an entrepreneurial venture. To accomplish this, students were asked to propose an air engine toy for middle schoolers. The proposed toy had to be assembled, provide a learning opportunity, and demonstrate utility. The students had to ensure the product appealed to those interested in the STEM fields. The students, working in groups, created renders of the final product, assembly instructions, and a guided worksheet for the kids to explore the underlying engineering concept. The groups produced a website with a video pitching their toy concepts. This case study exemplifies how any engineering endeavor can be modified to capture a more holistic simulation of the profession.

Download Full-text

Function Ordering Within Morphological Charts: An Experimental Study

Volume 7: 30th International Conference on Design Theory and Methodology ◽

10.1115/detc2018-86184 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Anant Chawla ◽

Joshua D. Summers

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Design Space Exploration ◽

Engineering Students ◽

Design Space ◽

Space Exploration ◽

Integrated Design ◽

Input Function ◽

Output Function ◽

Design Concepts ◽

Morphological Chart

Morphological charts are widely recognized tools in engineering design applications and research. However, a literature gap exists in instructing the representation and exploration of morphological charts. In this paper, an experiment is conducted to understand how morphological charts are explored and what impact functional arrangement has on it. The experiment consisted of two problem statements, each with five different functional arrangements: 1) Most to Least Important Function, 2) Least to Most Important Function, 3) Input to Output Function, 4) Output to Input Function, and 5) Random. Sixty-seven junior mechanical engineering students were provided a prepopulated morphological chart and asked to generate integrated design concepts. The generated concepts were analyzed to determine how frequently a given means is selected, how much of the chart is explored, what is the sequence of exploration, and finally the influence of function ordering on them. Experimental results indicate a tendency to focus more on the initial columns of the chart irrespective of functional order. Moreover, the Most-to-Least-Important functional order results in higher chances and uniformity of design space exploration.

Download Full-text

Design Integrated in the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum: Assessment of the Engineering Clinics

Journal of Mechanical Design ◽

10.1115/1.2722788 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 129 (7) ◽

pp. 682-691 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jennifer Kadlowec ◽

Krishnan Bhatia ◽

Tirupathi R. Chandrupatla ◽

John C. Chen ◽

Eric Constans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Survey Data ◽

Mechanical Engineering ◽

Engineering Students ◽

Integrated Design ◽

Curriculum Assessment ◽

Rowan University ◽

Core Courses ◽

Team Environment ◽

Design Skills ◽

The Impact

At Rowan University, design has been infused into the curriculum through an eight-semester course sequence called the Engineering Clinics. Through this experience, students learn the art and science of design in a multidisciplinary team environment and hone their design skills throughout their 4-year career. This paper describes the objectives of the clinics, types of projects, and how the clinics complement traditional core courses in the curriculum. Impacts and benefits of the clinics on students and faculty are discussed, including retention and graduate study rates comparing Rowan University mechanical engineering students to their peers nationally. An assessment of the clinics is presented based on survey data and accreditation objectives and outcomes. Survey data from students were assessed to determine levels of students’ satisfaction and confidence based on the clinics. Results of alumni and employer surveys also provide valuable feedback for assessing and improving the clinics as well as confirmation of the impact of clinics after graduation. Survey data are discussed along with challenges of the clinics at Rowan and adaptability of them at other institutions. Overall, the clinics are a positive and integrated design experience in the curriculum and assist students in achieving the program objectives.

Download Full-text