Introduction to Computing for Biomedical Engineers: What We Learned
Grady H. Rylander and Thomas E. Milner
OVERVIEW: BME 303 (Introduction to computing for biomedical engineers) was taught for the first time to 120 freshman and sophomore engineering students during the fall 2002 semester. The curriculum was divided into three learning modules. The first module covered number systems, Boolean algebra, logical expressions, and logic gates. The second module discussed the VonNeuman computer model, machine instructions, and assembly language programming. The third module introduced C++ programming and higher level application software programs that our curriculum committee identified as being essential for BME undergraduate courses, these included: EXCEL, MATLAB, and LABVIEW. Lectures were presented using PowerPoint with students downloading skeleton notes from the class web site prior to lecture. Throughout the semester, students were provided homework assignments with a biomedical flavor. Students participated in a hands-on project to write assembly language code to control a pill dispenser that was especially constructed for the class. Selected student groups presented their code in a design contest that was judged by Dr. Jonathan Valvano.