BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING UCIrvine

University of California, Irvine

Andrew J. Putnam, Ph.D.Assistant Professor

Workshop on BME Teaching of Innovation, Design &

Entrepreneurship

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING UCIrvine

Problem-based learning: An effective method to teach innovation & entrepreneurship

• Problem-based learning (PBL)– First introduced in the

mid-1960s at McMaster University

– Used routinely in medical school curricula

– Introduced at UC Irvine by Prof. Steve George and Dr. De Galow (Director of the Instructional Resource Center at UCI)

• Characteristics of PBL– Students are repeatedly

presented with “real-world” problems

– Acquire skills in teamwork, information collection analysis, and problem solving

– Integrate knowledge from didactic lectures until they understand the concepts required to solve the problem

– Problems stimulate inventiveness, creativity, and enthusiasm for BME

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Guest Lectures • Introduce BME research

areas at UCI• Introduce mentors for

BME careers• Attract UG researchers

into BME labs• Define BME and a

biomedical engineer’s unique role in society

Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (BME 1)Instructor: Prof. Abe Lee

2 units (1 design unit)

Group Projects (PBL)• Students are placed into

teams of 4-6 for 2 PBL assignments1. Reverse engineering:

analyze how a particular BME technology or device works.

2. Design engineering: design an effective strategy to improve a specific biomedical device or technology.

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Standard Lecture Format• Physiological function

from a cellular, molecular, and biophysical perspective

• Courses are designed to familiarize students with applying engineering principles to molecular processes within cells

• 40+ students during Winter/Spring 2003

Cell and Molecular Engineering I/II (BME 50A/B)Instructors: Prof. Andy Putnam (50A)

Prof. Jim Brody (50B)

4 units each (2 design units each)

Implementation of PBLThree “open-ended” designproblems assigned during

thecourse.

1. A diabetic patient’s trek across Antarctica

2. Design a process for the large scale production of insulin

3. Design an alternative gene chip that doesn’t impinge on existing patents

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Biomedical Engineering Clinical/Industrial Design (BME 180A/B)Instructors: Prof. Bill Tang and Prof. Abe Lee4 units each (4 design units each)

Standard Lecture Format• Senior-year capstone

design courses (will be taught for first time in the 2004-2005 Academic Year).

• Presentation of design issues to be considered:– Economic feasibility and

innovation– Safety and reliability– Ethics and marketing

Implementation of PBL• Incorporate local BME

companies in the education– in consultation with our

corporate advisory board).

– What are the essential industrial elements to teach the students?

• Incorporate hands-on projects (with industry mentors?) – How can industrial

internship be included as part of the courses?

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Assessing outcomes

• Standard exams, homework assignments, and quizzes

• Written reports, oral presentations, and peer assessments for PBL assignments

• Student evaluations of PBL vs. traditional didactic lectures

• Future assessments:– Student enrollments– Feedback from alumni– Feedback from local industry via corporate

advisory board

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING UCIrvine

An example of “best practices”

Pacemaker Today

History

Engineering and Design Principles

Manufacturing Methods

Intellectual Properties

Perpetual Rotor

Electrochemistry Principles

Physiological Principles

Reverse Engineering

Design Engineering