Conference Session

Communication and Professional Skills in BME

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joe Tranquillo; Daniel Cavanagh, Bucknell University

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical

“writer” for every assignment. It should benoted that groups naturally lend themselves to peer assessment of writing as a mechanismfor revision. A slight twist on group assignments was used in BMEG 401 to highlight thechallenges of group communication. The entire class (13 students) was challenged tocreate a single graphic and present it in class, to the instructor, 48 hours later. The resultsof this exercise were used to motivate a discussion of large group dynamics andmanagement.The Importance of AudienceFor all assignments it is important that students consider their audience. Most of theirlives, students have been satisfying an instructor who will use their communications toassign a grade. It is the perpetuation of this format that leads to

Conference Session

Communication and Professional Skills in BME

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Willis Tompkins, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Naomi Chesler, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Walter Block, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Kristyn Masters, University of Wisconsin-Madison; William Murphy, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Mitchell Tyler, University of Wisconsin-Madison; John Webster, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical

. 6. Each team does an end-of-semester poster presentation. 7. Each student does peer review of other teams’ PowerPoint and poster presentations. 8. Each student does a self and peer performance evaluation.In addition to these deliverables that all represent aspects of professional communication skills,other experiences that students get with professional communication are: 1. Each junior-level student mentors a sophomore who is part of their team when the BME 200 and 300 students are combined in teams. 2. Each team meets with their faculty advisor every week for a design review. 3. Each student participates in at least one K-12 outreach activity. 4. Each team writes at least one technical paper as part of the final

Conference Session

Design in BME Poster Session

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David McStravick, Rice University; Marcia O'Mallley, Rice University

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical

the electrical requirements and control concepts • This project provided an excellent design development experience for the mechanical engineering and electrical student. It has followed the classic design procedure of defining the problem, brainstorming, determining specifications, locating components, making other components, assembly, and testing. • The Medi-Fridge project is an excellent engineering project in that it has the typical engineering tradeoffs required to reach a satisfactory approach that meets the project goals.Bibliography1) Robinson, R., 2001, Calibrated Peer ReviewTM: An application to increase student reading and writing skills. The American Biology Teacher, v. 63, n

Conference Session

Laboratories and Computer Simulation in BME

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Timothy Allen, University of Virginia; Brett Blackman, University of Virginia

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical

execution of theirprojects, subject to instructor approval. Students thus have an opportunity to engage inexperimental design at a level that prepares them for the upcoming Capstone projects thefollowing year.Course AssessmentAssessment of the course after each module was conducted using oral and writtencommunication from the students. Course evaluations were collated at the end of each semester,and individual exit interviews and anonymous surveys were conducted for two graduatingclasses. Students complete peer evaluations each semester regarding the performance of theirfellow group members in the lab and in writing the reports. Summative assessment of studentlearning consisted of pre-lab quizzes each week, laboratory reports for each module, one

Conference Session

Freshman Design and Other Novel Programs

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rebecca Willits, Saint Louis University

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical

evaluate your experiment/demonstration as a Biotransport student and solve all relevant equations, analyze the results and discuss the outcomes. Your team is responsible for the design of an experiment, including the equations and mathematics behind the experiment, a sample apparatus (if necessary), a description of the set-up for a TA/moderator, parameters for the experiment and a sample laboratory write-up/handout. Additionally, you will need to video-record a model presentation. Be sure to have a hypothesis or purpose to the experiment, background on what the students will learn and why it is important (in other words, what will they learn?). You may also design ‘props’ that will be used in

Conference Session

Bioengineering laboratories: Bringing research into the classroom

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Barnett, Saint Louis University; Rebecca Willits, Saint Louis University

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical

on the faculty-sponsored project withincreasingly positive results. In addition to developing clear expectations, the students arerequired to develop a project proposal, complete significant literature research, peer reviewfellow student projects, orally present and defend their written proposal, and ultimately composea technical article and present that work at a poster session. The entire sequence providesstudents with the opportunity to explore the forefront of biomedical engineering, develop theircommunication skills and their ability to critically analyze technical work, and to develop theskills and confidence to complete a demanding project.Over the past two years we have added steps to improve the course by providing

Conference Session

Freshman Design and Other Novel Programs

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rachael Schmedlen, University of Michigan; Mimi (Miriam) Adam; Robert Sulewski; Matthew O'Donnell, University of Washington

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical

breakdown into 2 opposing cliques as often happened with 4 person teams. Inaddition, when a member or two fails to perform to group expectations, the remainder of theteam tends to form a more cohesive unit that can exert positive peer pressure and fend off amajor team conflict. Oddly enough, 5 person teams seem to be the most susceptible to seriousdivisions and are often run by a dominant leader who unites with another member to take over allthe work and exclude other members from the decision making process.In addition to lectures, labs and discussion sections, students are expected to schedule meetingswith management to review their projects and to attend office hours to discuss questions,problems or concerns. Furthermore, they are required to

Conference Session

New Tools in Teaching and Learning Biomedical Engineering Concepts

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Vikki Hazelwood, Stevens Institute of Technology; Arthur Ritter, Stevens Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Biomedical

written surveys, they stopped writing their name or student ID number, and beganwriting their subject number only.Other aspects of their conduct demonstrated that students gained familiarity with biomedicalresearch. In the first visit, they had to be told to take their socks off to step on the impedancescale. In each case, the researchers explained why a measurement must be taken in bare feet. Insubsequent visits, the students did not require instructions to remove their socks. Similarly, theywere dressed more appropriately for the skin-fold measurement assessment. Page 12.7.8Student FAQ’s and commentsAs mentioned, many students asked questions