Project-based learning as a curriculum enhancement of bioinstrumentation in biomedical engineering

Abstract

Bioinstrumentation is an important area in biomedical engineering. The following paper analyzed the perceived trend in the courses of this block of knowledge of UNITEC's biomedical engineering program in Honduras. In this, the difficulty in understanding the topics has been detected, limiting the scope of learning in the course. It was established as general objective, to propose improvements to this teaching block, covering the knowledge taught and methodologies applied in class, as well as a reordering of the subjects through a reform to the current curriculum. An analysis of UNITEC's curriculum was carried out to identify opportunities for improvement. An international benchmarking was also developed to understand the panorama of academic programs in the region. Through the data collected and the construction of the state of the art, the proposal for improvements was elaborated. The change of the methodology applied in the courses and approach of the laboratory practices represent the greatest opportunities for improvement. Project-based learning could be the best option to boost medical device research and development in the country to get closer to the goal of the academic program.