This study describes how the labs were designed and project-based learning was implemented in a course on fundamental concepts of organic and biochemistry for an undergraduate biomedical engineering major. This was a 4-credit required course designed for juniors of the biomedical engineering program by faculty of the Sciences department at Wentworth Institute of Technology. The course served as an introduction to selected concepts of organic chemistry and biochemistry of relevance to medical devices, which is the main focus of Wentworth's biomedical engineering program. The lab component of the course was divided into two parts. The first part was designed to familiarize students with the key techniques and instrumentation in organic and biochemistry by a series of weekly labs (15% of final grade). Traditional organic chemistry experiments such as aspirin synthesis and analysis, molecular modeling and instrumentation labs were introduced. Instrumentation labs were included to help students make connections between properties of organic molecules, data collection and analysis. Selected biochemistry applications were introduced by incorporating labs on enzyme catalysis and ELISA. During the last three weeks of the course, students had the opportunity to choose a project from a given list (15% of final grade). Projects included: DNA fingerprinting/PCR (6 groups), forensic enzymology (6 groups), purification of fluorescent proteins by chromatography (2 groups) and diagnostic testing techniques for genetic diseases (2 groups). Students then presented the results of their final project in a research paper format (33%) or in oral presentation format (67%). Average student grade in this course was 81%, with 65% of students getting 80% and above. Students' feedback, students anonymous evaluations and assessments suggested that integration of project-based learning and instrumentation enhanced students' class participation, their understanding of the field and aroused students' interest in the application of organic and biochemistry to their major.

Development of a foundation course in organic and biochemistry for an undergraduate biomedical engineering major: Use of project-based learning and instrumentation

248th National Meeting (2014)

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