Active learning experiences on medical devices for manufacturing and new product development

Abstract

This paper describes the ongoing work of a NSF CCLI project for analyzing the impact of medical device-related active learning pedagogies in manufacturing and new product development courses within the engineering curriculum. The main focus of the study is on the impact of these approaches on students' engagement, retention of material, and conceptual understanding of course material. A project-based learning (PBL) approach was incorporated into a manufacturing processes course through a real-world medical device project to provide students with active learning experiences on medical device design and manufacturing. The course was redesigned to provide a combination of lectures on theoretical concepts and hands-on laboratory sessions focused on medical devices to help students through the learning process and the realization of their projects. Preliminary results show that the redesigned course through integration of a real-world medical device project-based learning approach increased students' interest and understanding of design and manufacturing principles. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2009.