The best aspects of this course included the material covered during lectures that was both interesting and relevant to tissue engineering research and applications; also, students appreciated the opportunity to learn about the current methods that researchers are using to develop different types of tissues and the chance to hold organs. Some student felt frustrated by the constant course schedule change and the fact that many of them did not know the instructor’s expectations in regards to grading. Also, some students felt that the class was disorganized. Suggestions included integrating material from the two lecturers together to get a more comprehensive overview of the topic, using Blackboard to post grades and keeping homework assignments in separate folders, and providing students with clearer lecture slides. Prospective students should plan ahead and organize their time in order to properly prepare for the exams and effectively complete the midterm paper – the outcome of both is a large percentage of one’s grade.

38 The best aspects of this course were the variety of guest lecturers, the range of interesting topics covered, and the knowledgeable and engaging instructors. The course makes students think about biological processes and problems from an engineering perspective, making the potential solution engineering based rather than biologically based. The worst aspects of the course include the lack of organization to the topics covered, the significant final paper in addition to the final exam, and the lack of clear feedback on graded work. More organization of topics, more cohesion between instructors, and better preparation for the exams were al suggested improvements to the class. Prospective students should know this is an interesting course with a low to moderate workload. The material presented is cutting edge and current.

Students enjoyed the real-world application of material learned and the knowledgeable professors who are involved in cutting-edge research. Students felt that the course was disorganized with no direction concerning course topics, and that the grading was inconsistent and arbitrary. A few exams were based on the students’ ability to memorize information. Suggestions for improvement included providing the students with supplemental resources such as a secondary text. Students also suggested having clearer, more coherent lectures with more opportunities for feedback. Prospective students should have a strong background in calculus and be knowledgeable about transport and cel tissues. Students are encouraged to attend al lectures and to study in advance. 37