Teaching Biomedical Engineering Technology students how to tailor messages: Lessons learned from a Technical Communication in healthcare professions course

Inquiry-based learning is an educational approach that allows the student to take ownership over the education process by self-identifying a problem and formulating their own solution. The application of this method of teaching was explored in an introductory mechanics course taken by both engineering and engineering technology students. Students were tasked with applying the principles of fundamental static equilibrium analysis to objects found in their normal surroundings. The deliverable for this assignment consisted of a photograph of an object they found to be in static equilibrium and a short description of how the state of the object could be described mathematically. Student submissions for this task exhibited a wide range of quality and imagination. Examples of student work are presented along with discussion of lessons learned and recommendations for the use of this method in the future. The overall student response to this task was positive and thus these efforts will be expanded.

Download Full-text

Case Study Of A Small Scale Polytechnic Entrepreneurship Capstone Course Sequence

American Journal of Engineering Education (AJEE) ◽

10.19030/ajee.v8i1.9965 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 35-44

Author(s):

Rustin D. Webster ◽

Richard Kopp

Keyword(s):

Design Thinking ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Small Scale ◽

Engineering Technology ◽

Technical Data ◽

Capstone Course ◽

Technology Students ◽

Hands On Learning ◽

Course Sequence ◽

Effective Product

A multidisciplinary entrepreneurial senior capstone has been created for engineering technology students at a research I land-grant university statewide extension. The two semester course sequence welcomes students from Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Computer Graphics Technology, and Organizational Leadership. The goal was to provide an avenue for technology students to learn about, actively participate in, and form small scale startups in a multidisciplinary approach. Student are introduced to fundamental techniques and methodologies for effective product development, such as design thinking, technical data package, rapid prototyping, testing, and validation. As well as entrepreneurship concepts, such as product ideation, market research, capital exploration, customer acquisition, customer discovery, intellectual protection, marketing and branding, and leadership. The capstone has provided real-world, hands-on learning of the components and processes necessary to take a product idea from initial concept to successful business. Currently entering in to its third year, the capstone continues to evolve. This paper presents a brief description of the capstone, including formation, execution, and outcomes. The curriculums used are outlined and future changes are discussed. Lastly, the presentation of challenges, lessons learned, and course accomplishments will be discussed.

Download Full-text