TY - JOUR
T1 - Development and Implementation of a Biometrics Device Design Project in an Introductory BME Course to Support Student Wellness
AU - Miller, Isabel
AU - Lamer, Sara
AU - Brougham-Cook, Aidan
AU - Jensen, Karin J
AU - Golecki, Holly M
N1 - © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Biomedical Engineering Society 2021.
PY - 2022/1/3
Y1 - 2022/1/3
N2 - Mental health challenges have been rising across college campuses. To destigmatize wellness practices and promote student mental health, we present a novel technical project in an introductory bioengineering course that explores stress management techniques through physiology, biosensors, and design. We hypothesize that if students measure objective, physiologic impacts of stress management techniques on themselves, they may be more likely to realize the benefits and use those techniques when needed. Additionally, through this data-driven project, we aim to appeal to engineers' critical thinking nature. To support students in selecting stress management techniques for themselves, mindfulness is introduced and practiced in the course. Initial student feedback on the introduction of mindfulness into the classroom is positive. The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the need to focus on student wellbeing in addition to physical health. Integration of wellness into the core curriculum can normalize the use of these resources within engineering departments and colleges and equip students with stress management tools for their careers. Ultimately, this curricular development lays the groundwork for institutional enhancement of undergraduate STEM education by supporting student wellness through the engineering curriculum.Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43683-021-00060-1.
AB - Mental health challenges have been rising across college campuses. To destigmatize wellness practices and promote student mental health, we present a novel technical project in an introductory bioengineering course that explores stress management techniques through physiology, biosensors, and design. We hypothesize that if students measure objective, physiologic impacts of stress management techniques on themselves, they may be more likely to realize the benefits and use those techniques when needed. Additionally, through this data-driven project, we aim to appeal to engineers' critical thinking nature. To support students in selecting stress management techniques for themselves, mindfulness is introduced and practiced in the course. Initial student feedback on the introduction of mindfulness into the classroom is positive. The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the need to focus on student wellbeing in addition to physical health. Integration of wellness into the core curriculum can normalize the use of these resources within engineering departments and colleges and equip students with stress management tools for their careers. Ultimately, this curricular development lays the groundwork for institutional enhancement of undergraduate STEM education by supporting student wellness through the engineering curriculum.Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43683-021-00060-1.
KW - Undergraduate education
KW - Biomedical engineering
KW - Design courses
KW - Medical device design
KW - Mental health and wellness
KW - Experiential learning
U2 - 10.1007/s43683-021-00060-1
DO - 10.1007/s43683-021-00060-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 35005715
SN - 2730-5937
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Biomedical Engineering Education
JF - Biomedical Engineering Education
ER -