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Unit outline_

BMET1960: Biomedical Engineering 1A

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Biomedical Engineering 1A introduces students to the exciting interdisciplinary field of Biomedical Engineering through a combination of expert lectures, deep-dive tutorials, creative research and design tasks with your peers, and practical hands-on training. Some of the areas you will learn about are: medical imaging; biomaterials and tissue engineering; nanomaterials and nanotechnology; medical devices and sensors; biomechanics and computational biomedical engineering; biomanufacturing; and bionics and neuromodulation. You’ll also be introduced to most of the Biomedical Engineering staff who you’ll encounter throughout the rest of your degree, discovering how they became interested and established in the field. We hope this introductory unit stirs your passion and interest in the exciting field of Biomedical Engineering!

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Biomedical Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ENGG1960 OR ENGG1800 OR CIVL1900 OR CHNG1108 OR MECH1560 OR AERO1560 OR MTRX1701 OR AMME1960 or ELEC1004 or ELEC1005
Assumed knowledge
? 

HSC Mathematics Extension 1 (3 Unit)

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Andre Kyme, andre.kyme@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Open book) Type C final exam Final exam
Canvas-based online exam
20% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
Participation Manufacturing Technology Workshops
Practical workshop tasks, Solid Works introduction and Arduino introduction
25% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO4
Assignment group assignment Assignment 1
Biomedical ethics creative presentation
10% Week 06
Due date: 01 Apr 2022 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO6 LO8 LO10
Assignment group assignment Biomedical Design Task
Group presentation in Week 10 tutorial
15% Week 10 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO11 LO12
Assignment Assignment 2
Critical literature review
15% Week 12
Due date: 20 May 2022 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO8 LO9
Assignment Tutorial Assessment
Participation and portfolio
10% Week 13
Due date: 27 May 2022 at 23:59
Whole semester
Outcomes assessed: LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO1
Small continuous assessment Weekly quiz
Weekly lecture review quiz
5% Weekly n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO6 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type C final exam = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Weekly lecture quiz (5%): Students are required to complete an online quiz following each lecture. Each quiz will assess students’ understanding of lecture content.
  • Assignment 1 (10%): Group assignment requiring students to develop a creative and persuasive response to an ethically challenging biomedical scenario.
  • Assignment 2 (15%): Critical literature review on a specific topic in biomedical engineering.
  • Biomedical Design Task (15%): Group design task to develop a low-cost solution to a relevant biomedical engineering problem.
  • Tutorials (10%): Students assessed on holistic participation in tutorials over the semester and a submitted portfolio demonstrating engagement with the course material.
  • Manufacturing Technology Workshops (25%): Students assessed on skills, quality of work and practical knowledge.
  • Final exam (20%): Multiple choice assessment covering lecture content.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% per day

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. Introduction to course; 2. introduction to tomographic medical imaging Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Week 02 1. Regulatory affairs; 2. engineering ethics. Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO8 LO10
Introduction to unit; choosing and evaluating sources; academic integrity; paper discussion (med imaging); BME mindmap; Assignment 1 introduction Tutorial (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
Week 03 1. Anatomy and physiology for engineers. Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Regulatory affairs; Assignment 1 planning Tutorial (2 hr) LO6 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 04 1. Biomaterials; 2. tissue engineering; 3. mechanobiology. Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Tissue engineering focus Tutorial (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Week 05 1. Nanomaterials in medicine. Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Nanomaterials and nanotechnology focus Tutorial (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Week 06 1. Fluid dynamics, microfluidics and their applications in biomedical engineering. Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Design assignment introduction; concept drawings Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO11 LO12
Week 07 1. Medical devices and sleep apnoea. Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Introduction to Assignment 2; literature reviews; design task planning Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO11 LO12
Week 08 1. Medical devices and cerebral palsy; bioelectronics Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Bioelectronics; design task planning Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8 LO11 LO12
Week 09 1. Biomechanics and computational biomedical engineering. Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Biomechanics focus; design task planning Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO11 LO12
Week 10 1. Biomanufacturing. Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Design task presentations Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO12
Week 11 1. Advanced bionics; 2. fundamentals of neuromodulation. Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO11
Fluid dynamics focus Tutorial (2 hr) LO7 LO8 LO11
Week 12 Introduction to Industry - networking, presentation and Q&A Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Biomedical industry focus Tutorial (2 hr) LO6 LO8 LO9
Week 13 CANNES Film Festival (Assignment 1 showing + award) Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO8 LO10
Weekly Private revision Independent study (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance is not assessed in this unit, however students are encouraged to be present at live lectures to engage with the lecturer and ask questions to improve learning outcomes. Part of the tutorial assessment is based on holistic engagement with the tutorial material and activities over the course of the semester – students will not score well in this component if they are not present.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There are no required text books for the course, however numerous readings will be provided to students throughout the course (on Canvas) to supplement the tutorials and lectures.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. generate a concise engineering report
  • LO2. develop basic skills in engineering drawing, specifications and computer aided design
  • LO3. develop and articulate a design and development process for a medical device
  • LO4. develop basic machining and hand tool skills for biomedical engineering
  • LO5. gain a working understanding of microcontrollers (Arduino) and how to implement such a device in a simple biomedical project
  • LO6. understand what Biomedical Engineering is as a discipline and how it relates in a professional context to the medical devices industry and healthcare sector
  • LO7. understand and relate the key anatomical and physiological systems for medical device applications: (1) support and movement, skeletal system and muscular system; (2) control systems, nervous system; (3) regulation and maintenance; cardiovascular system
  • LO8. understand and articulate the interrelationships between different areas of biomedical engineering
  • LO9. understand the current state-of-the-art in some areas of biomedical engineering
  • LO10. understand and apply ethical principles and regulations as they relate to biomedical engineering research and industry
  • LO11. understand some of the key mathematical concepts, tools and tasks in biomedical engineering
  • LO12. design, describe and justify a rigorous scientific experimental approach to solve a biomedical engineering problem.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Several improvements will be made for 2022, including: clarifying the expectations for lecture content; adjusting the rubrics for the assignments and design task to clarify the requirements and improve the consistency of marking; and explicitly linking the lecture and tutorial material in the tutorial introductions. Techniques to facilitate improved online peer-to-peer learning will also be implemented.

Work, health and safety

Refer the Manufacturing Technology Canvas site for detailed information on all work health and safety requirements for lab component of this unit.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.