George Stephanie M, Domire Zachary J
Mem. ASME Department of Engineering, East Carolina University, 225 Slay Building, Mail Stop 117, Greenville, NC 27858 e-mail:
Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, 332A Ward Sports Medicine Building, Greenville, NC 27858 e-mail:
J Biomech Eng. 2017 Jul 1;139(7). doi: 10.1115/1.4036315.
As the reliance on computational models to inform experiments and evaluate medical devices grows, the demand for students with modeling experience will grow. In this paper, we report on the 3-yr experience of a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) based on the theme simulations, imaging, and modeling in biomechanics. While directly applicable to REU sites, our findings also apply to those creating other types of summer undergraduate research programs. The objective of the paper is to examine if a theme of simulations, imaging, and modeling will improve students' understanding of the important topic of modeling, provide an overall positive research experience, and provide an interdisciplinary experience. The structure of the program and the evaluation plan are described. We report on the results from 25 students over three summers from 2014 to 2016. Overall, students reported significant gains in the knowledge of modeling, research process, and graduate school based on self-reported mastery levels and open-ended qualitative responses. This theme provides students with a skill set that is adaptable to other applications illustrating the interdisciplinary nature of modeling in biomechanics. Another advantage is that students may also be able to continue working on their project following the summer experience through network connections. In conclusion, we have described the successful implementation of the theme simulation, imaging, and modeling for an REU site and the overall positive response of the student participants.
随着依靠计算模型为实验提供信息和评估医疗设备的需求不断增长，对具有建模经验的学生的需求也会增加。在本文中，我们报告了由美国国家科学基金会（NSF）资助的本科生研究经验（REU）项目为期三年的经验，该项目以生物力学中的模拟、成像和建模为主题。虽然我们的研究结果直接适用于REU站点，但也适用于那些创建其他类型本科夏季研究项目的机构。本文的目的是研究模拟、成像和建模这一主题是否会提高学生对建模这一重要主题的理解，提供总体上积极的研究体验，并提供跨学科体验。文中描述了项目的结构和评估计划。我们报告了2014年至2016年三个夏天25名学生的研究结果。总体而言，根据学生自我报告的掌握程度和开放式定性回答，学生们表示在建模知识、研究过程和研究生学习方面有显著收获。这一主题为学生提供了一套适用于其他应用的技能，体现了生物力学建模的跨学科性质。另一个优势是，学生在夏季体验之后还可能通过网络联系继续开展他们的项目。总之，我们描述了为一个REU站点成功实施模拟、成像和建模主题以及学生参与者的总体积极反馈。
