Bioengineering education: Implementation of laboratory experiences with biomedical applications in the basic cycle of the program

Abstract

Laboratory experiences can be powerful tools in the engineering education. The experience was carried out at the Faculty of Engineering, belonging to the National University of Entre Ríos, where a bioengineering degree program is offered. The design and implementation were carried out in the context of two courses: Differential Equations and Electricity and Magnetism. The proposal is aimed at breaking the usual scheme of separating content study by courses, promoting coordination between them and experimental work since the early years of the course of study. Contents are usually approached in separate courses with different perspectives, lacking an inclusive instance. On the other hand, the students of the first years of the program who are dealing with basic subjects, are often unmotivated because it is difficult for them to see why they need to know these contents and how they may relate them to their future professional work. That is why an integrator practical intended to strengthen the interdisciplinary experimental practical formation of the future bioengineers from the first years and to encourage horizontal articulation between the courses mentioned. It allows analyzing the properties of the circuit (Resistance and Capacitor) articulating the physical concepts, mathematical modeling, computer simulation and biomedical applications. The results obtained allow us to infer that the introduction of a specific application from the early years can motivate students and stimulate their desire to learn.