Biomedical Sensing, Measurement, and Instrumentation with hands-on activities to promote healthcare-related careers

Project Summary/Abstract Proposed is an innovative product using the latest biomedical sensors to create hands-on activities for students. It will help teachers increase their students’ exposure of students to health sciences and promote healthcare-related careers. Significance: Due to concerns that the United States will not have the workforce needed to meet industry demands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related careers, significant focus has been placed on STEM education. Across the US, the growing implementation of STEM programs has quite visibility taken form through the addition of robotics, maker spaces, 3D printers, and virtual reality into classrooms and after-school programs. However, the majority of the fastest growing occupations are in health-related fields, and, thus, it is vital for STEM programs to also provide engaging and diverse pathways to introduce students to health career opportunities. Phase I established the feasibility of the proposed system and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from teachers. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that a product that engages students in activities rooted in health science will increase interest and the belief they can successfully pursue healthcare-related careers. Specific Aims: In Phase II, IDL will 1) Create a production-ready and student-friendly system; 2) Develop a comprehensive curriculum and series of classroom activities; and 3) Evaluate the system with a study of end-users.