Project-Based Learning (PBL) in Bioengineering

Abstract

A frequent problem of project-based learning (PBL) experiences linked to product design is the difficulty in reaching the detailed design stage, particularly if the experience is linked to a single subject that is timetabled for a single 4-month period. Quite often, the application tasks are focused on the most general stage of conceptual design but hardly ever reach the detailed design stage, when it is this stage that is the most interesting for applying the specific concepts of the subject being studied.

In this situation the information contained in patent documents can prove to be an endless source of conceptual designs that can be used to build PBL experiences in every field of engineering. In this way, the detailed stage can be reached more easily and lead to “patent-based project-based learning” or “P²B²L”. In this kind of experience students can also acquire some notions regarding the standard structure of patent documents and learn to understand the importance of patents as a design tool and as documents that are essential for promoting innovation.

This chapter describes an experience of this kind carried out in the subject of “Bioengineering” on the Master’s in Engineering at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid during the 2010–2011 course. It describes the teaching methodology used and the main achievements and makes proposals for future improvements. The use of similar experiences in subjects linked to Biomedical Engineering and to the development of medical devices can be an effective tool for promoting the industrial impact of the technologies described in this handbook.