Drexel Engineering Perspectives

Dr. Elisabeth PapazoglouDr. Donald McEachron

Siddharth GadkariChetana Sunkari

Jay Bhatt

Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

Workshop: Measuring the Lifelong Learning Outcome in Terms of Information Literacy Components

Engineering Libraries Division, ASEE 2007

Increasing the effectiveness of Student Research in a Biomaterials Course

User needs and users’ skillsTo understand what our users want, we must

knowWho our users are What their information needs are

Use Drexel’s Engineering Programs as an example / case study

Describe our efforts to meet their needsImprove through user feedback

User community Understanding the user community

Undergraduate and Graduate Students(today Drexel educates 17000 students)

Co-op studentsInternational students representing several

countries

Awareness of new initiatives helps in projecting new emerging information needs

Meetings with Department Heads University Web Sites Newsletter articles

User communityDoctoral programs are growing

Number of doctoral students increased by 40% in the last five years

Faculty members: As new programs evolve, more faculty are hired. 75 new faculty members hired in the

last three yearsSo …..more users than ever before….What do they want? How do they let us know what are they

looking for?

Drexel’s Engineering ProgramsAll major engineering disciplinesBiomedical engineering, Science, and

Health systemsInterdisciplinary focus is increasing

(Nanotechnology, Biomaterials, Bionanotechnology, Biomechanics, etc.)

Undergraduate ResearchGraduate Research

Case Study - BiomaterialsCourse Sequence

3 Quarters = 2 SemestersChallenges

Interdisciplinary FieldDiverse Student BackgroundLack of appropriate textbooks

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials I – Fall TermProf. Papazoglou teaches the three course

sequence60-70 students Biomaterials propertiesVarious types of materials such as

polymers, hydrogels, ceramics, and glasses

Controlled Drug Release systems Nanotechnology

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials I – Fall TermResearch intensive coursesStudents need to search across a variety

of literatureType of literature students need to consult

HandbooksEncyclopediasBooks at the libraryElectronic booksStandards such as those from ASTM or ISOScientific Literature

Skills targetedDevelop basic understanding of various types

of biomaterials, their properties and their biomedical applications

Develop awareness of both print and electronic resources to find information on Biomaterials

Use library blogs efficiently to successfully find information needed for assignment questions

Locate relevant research papers by using a variety of but appropriate resources

Find patents and Intellectual Property for biomedical devices

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials I – Fall TermDr. Papazoglou’s email earlier in the Fall

term shows what problem she and her students were facing

Problems Several Students were not familiar with a number of

databases and resources available through the library Google appeared to be the choice even when the

specific property of a particular material was needed Some students thought they knew about the resources

but what they knew was only about 20% of what they actually can use

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials I – Fall TermInformation NeededBiomaterial Properties – Handbooks.Find inventions reported in news

Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe medical news Follow up research on new inventions

(find research papers)RSS feeds and alerts from databasesUse Refworks or Endnote( required to create

a bibliography)

ABET Criteria met by Biomaterials courses

Criterion k (Outcome) Ability to use the techniques, skills, and

modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Criterion i (Outcome) Recognition of the need for, and ability

to engage in, life-long learning

These Outcomes were further mapped into Performance Criteria

Performance Criteria for Outcome ABET i

(ABET i) Recognition of the need for, and ability to engage in, life-long learning

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA Ability to use library and online resources

for research purposes – addressed here directly

Membership and participation in professional organizations

Ability to identify and take advantage of learning opportunities – addressed here indirectly

Performance Criteria for Outcome ABET k

(ABET k) Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

PERFORMANCE CRITERION Ability to use computers and computer

software for analyzing and solving problems – addressed indirectly

Performance Criterion Rubric relevant to library resources for Outcome ABET iPerformance

CriterionPts

Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1

TOTAL POINTS ()          

    Regularly uses library and      

   online resources; Exceeds Uses library and online Uses library and online

Is unable to effectively use

   minimum requirements for

resources; Meets minumum

resources if directed to do so;

library or online resources;

Ability to use library and  

references in classroom papers

requirements for references in

Does not always meet minimum

Seldom meets minimum

online resources for  and projects; Asks

questionsclassroom papers and

projects;standrads for references in

standrads for references in

research purposes  based upon outside

sources Occassionally asks

questions classroom activities;

Seldomclassroom activities;

Never

   and actively seeks out

morebased on outside sources. asks questions based upon

asks questions based upon

    than minimum required   outside resources outside resources

    knowledge      

           

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials I – Fall Term

What did we do?

Library Instruction SessionBlog web site

- Biomaterials and Tissue EngineeringResearch GuidesOnline tutorials – Ei Compendex, Knovel, RSS

feeds, Refworks Consultations

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials I – Fall Term

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials I – Fall Term

How students communicatedEmail questionsPersonal visits Appointments (consultations)Virtual chat using IMInstruction during lecture time (classes)Informal communicationFrequently asked by users even while

walking on campus

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials II – Winter TermPatents and Intellectual propertyStudents needed to use what they learned in

the Fall term as well as search for patentsCancer nanotechnology as an exampleGroup ProjectsBlog site for patents

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials II – Winter TermInformation Needed

List 5 patented technologies for controlled drug delivery of cancer chemotherapy (last 7 years)

List any patent on drug delivery based on nanotechnology for drug delivery of cancer chemotherapy (last 5).

Determine uniqueness of each patentFind research literature using sources

learned during the Fall term

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials III – Spring Terma) List 3 FDA approved devices for artificial valvesb) List 3 FDA approved devices for stents and drug

eluting stentsc) Intellectual property protection for 2 of the

artificial valves d) Intellectual property protection for 2 of the drug

eluting stents e) Select the valve with the best chance of success –

discuss reasons in detailf) Select a drug eluting stent with the best chance of

success – discuss in detail

Biomaterials courses – Biomaterials II – Winter Term

Assessment – Objective IIFamiliarity of use of electronic and other

library resources in order to complete an independent Biomaterials project

At the beginning of the class = 20% of studentsAt the end of the class = 88% of students

Assessment – Open QuestionDo you feel knowledgeable and

comfortable in transferring what you learned from the Biomaterials / library use modules to your research?

Question was asked at the end of the term:

62% of students answered – Very Comfortable

28% of students answered – Comfortable 10% of students answered – Need more

practice

ConclusionInteraction between students, faculty and the

librarian promotes increased awareness about the sources of information.

Information seekers must utilize the help provided to take maximum advantage of the library resources.

Last but not the least, collaboration of the users and the library personnel would reduce effort and increase the effectiveness of information search.

Students have shown increased use of relevant library resources as evident from their interaction with the librarians and faculty members

ConclusionContinued learning environment is a lifelong skill

that can help the graduating students succeed in the fast, competitive global environment.

Drexel has a quarter system. Quarter was just finished last week.

Some data evaluation still needs to be doneProactive approach for faculty collaboration is

essentialFaculty members’ Information Literacy awareness

is crucial in order for such collaboration to succeed.

Thank You!Our contact information:

Dr. Elisabeth Papazoglou School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel

Universityesp25@drexel.edu

Dr. Donald McEachronSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel

Universitymceachdl@drexel.edu

Jay BhattW. W. Hagerty Library, Drexel Universitybhattjj@drexel.edu

Suggestions and recommendations most welcome!