Hands on the Human Body

Rowan University, Glassboro NJ

Investigators

Abstract

Engineering - Other (59) This project is an integrated effort by the Faculty of Engineering to develop effective methods for teaching engineering from an applied, multidisciplinary point of view. The project adapts the well-proven pedagogy of "reverse engineering", and implements this strategy for the study of the human body, an exquisite combination of interacting systems that can be analyzed using multidisciplinary engineering principles. We have developed a series of eight hands-on modules that introduce chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering principles through application to the human body. The goals of this project are to: (1) Engage students in the scientific discovery process via exploration of the engineering systems within the human body using exciting hands-on "reverse engineering" methods. (2) To introduce all of the proposed modules into the multidisciplinary Freshman Engineering Clinic course which is required of all freshmen at Rowan University. (3) To integrate the modules vertically into courses in the Chemical, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering curricula, and the Health Sciences Department.