The best aspects of this course included the exposure to various disciplines of engineering and business, the hands-on work and real-life applications, as well as the immersion into biomedical engineering as part of a design team. Some students felt the lectures were inefficient. Students also felt they were not given enough time before the instructor announced a deadline for an assignment. Suggestions included better organization and elimination of the quizzes. Prospective students should know that being part of a design team in this class is a huge commitment, but they will find the experience incredibly beneficial.

This course offered students collaborative hands-on experience with real world problems. The mix of year classification made freshmen feel like they had a support system from upperclassmen and the older students’ insight was intriguing for younger students. In addition, critical thinking skills were broadened and students chal enged themselves. The lectures were a low point of the course, and the work was time consuming and stressful for many students. Also, the course schedule confused students and there were unclear grading guidelines. It was suggested that lectures be relevant, that a more objective grading system and rubrics be implemented, and that there be more guest speakers. This course is an extremely big time commitment, so prospective students should take this into consideration.

Students raved about the unique opportunity that this course provided for a hands-on, largely self-directed, creative engagement with the process of developing an idea into a marketable product. Most enjoyed the opportunities to work independently and to learn from upperclassmen, but were hoping for more feedback and guidance from the professor. Many students agreed that the lectures themselves were not particularly helpful for their projects, and suggested that more information about the technical, business, and regulatory aspects of development would have been better. Prospective students should expect to invest 12+ hours each week outside of the classroom into what wil be a time consuming but ultimately rewarding glimpse into the real world of biomedical engineering.