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Hands-Off: Perceptions of Biomedical Engineering Technology Internships under a Global Pandemic

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

Engineering Technology Division (ETD) Technical Session 11

Tagged Division

Engineering Technology Division (ETD)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

13

DOI

10.18260/1-2--43332

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/43332

Download Count

168

Paper Authors

biography

Joie Marhefka The Pennsylvania State University

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Joie Marhefka is an Associate Teaching Professor and the Biomedical Engineering Technology program coordinator at Penn State New Kensington. Prior to coming to Penn State, she worked at several biotech start-ups and completed a post doctoral fellowship a

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biography

Dalynn D. Park

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Hi, I am Dalynn Park, a sophomore at Penn State University, New Kensington Campus. I am studying Biomedical Engineering Technology and Biobehavioral Health in hopes to continue further for a graduate degree. In the future, I hope to obtain a master’s de

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biography

Laura E. Cruz The Pennylvania State University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-5817-8934

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Laura Cruz (Ph.D, UC Berkeley 2001) is an Associate Research Professor for Teaching & Learning Scholarship with the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at Penn State. She previously served as the director of two Centers for Teaching and Learni

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Abstract

Internships are an integral component of biomedical engineering technology programs, as they provide students with hands-on experience working in real-world settings. To fully capture the benefits of an immersive environment, internships are traditionally conducted in person. In this pilot study, we assessed the extent to which virtual internships could provide similar benefits. We surveyed student interns (n=9) and their supervisors to determine the learning objectives and experiences that students and supervisors find most valuable and strategies for maintaining these important learning objectives in a virtual setting. Supervisors indicated that the most important objectives were real-world experience, increased confidence and working with others; while students said that getting hands on experience with various medical devices and preventative maintenance procedures and gaining experience with troubleshooting were most significant. The study identified outcomes and experiences that were important to include in a virtual alternative. The results of this study can be applied broadly to ensure that internships, regardless of modality, are worthwhile experiences for both students and supervisors.

Marhefka, J., & Park, D. D., & Cruz, L. E. (2023, June), Hands-Off: Perceptions of Biomedical Engineering Technology Internships under a Global Pandemic Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43332

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