title: A biotic game design project for integrated life science and engineering education.
abstract: Engaging, hands-on design experiences are key for formal and informal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Robotic and video game design challenges have been particularly effective in stimulating student interest, but equivalent experiences for the life sciences are not as developed. Here we present the concept of a "biotic game design project" to motivate student learning at the interface of life sciences and device engineering (as part of a cornerstone bioengineering devices course). We provide all course material and also present efforts in adapting the project's complexity to serve other time frames, age groups, learning focuses, and budgets. Students self-reported that they found the biotic game project fun and motivating, resulting in increased effort. Hence this type of design project could generate excitement and educational impact similar to robotics and video games.
authors: Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
authors: Nate J
authors: NJ
authors: Cira
authors: Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
authors: Alice M
authors: AM
authors: Chung
authors: Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
authors: Aleksandra K
authors: AK
authors: Denisin
authors: Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Rensi
authors: Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
authors: Gabriel N
authors: GN
authors: Sanchez
authors: Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
authors: Stephen R
authors: SR
authors: Quake
authors: Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
authors: Ingmar H
authors: IH
authors: Riedel-Kruse
mesh_terms: D004738:Engineering / Q000193:education*; D005055:Euglena / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008433:Mathematics / Q000193:education*; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008853:Microscopy; D009042:Motivation; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012586:Science / Q000193:education*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology*