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Bioengineering

Module Overview


These middle school-level materials merge NGSS standards in life science and engineering design. Students explore sensory and motor systems, and complete a scaffolded challenge to design, test, and improve prosthetic hand models made from common inexpensive materials. In addition to content standards, these materials highlight the importance of user-centered design and iteration in engineering through multimedia and paper-based classroom activities. Use them together in the suggested sequence below or individually.

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Designed for US Middle School level (ages 12-14)

Suggested Lesson Sequence

This Guide is a comprehensive example of how we implemented thesematerials, interwoven together, during classroom field testing.

ActivityDescriptionClass Time
NeuroBuilder (Interactive)
Online interactive
Will require internet-connected devices for each student or pair of students
where students learn about the structure and function of neurons, and work with various scenarios to piece together how sensory and motor pathways respond to environmental stimuli.
Learning Objectives

Students will describe how the nervous system responds to stimuli in the environment through motor and sensory neurons.

  • Students will identify the three distinct parts of a neuron and name the function of each part.
  • Students will identify the pathway that a signal follows in the correct order when given a diagram.
  • Analyze given scenarios to trace the flow of information through sensory and motor pathways, identifying key components (brain, spinal cord, sensory pathway and motor pathway) and their functions in the nervous system.

Teaching Tips		45 min
Bundle of Nerves (pdf)
Kinesthetic classroom activity
Whole-class activity with no separate student materials
that helps students visualize what’s happening in a neural pathway. Requires at least 5 students.
Learning Objectives

Students will describe how the nervous system responds to stimuli in the environment through motor and sensory neurons.

  • Students will identify the three distinct parts of a neuron and name the function of each part.
  • Students will identify the pathway that a signal follows in the correct order when given a diagram.
  • Analyze given scenarios to trace the flow of information through sensory and motor pathways, identifying key components (brain, spinal cord, sensory pathway and motor pathway) and their functions in the nervous system.

Teaching Tips		45 min
Living with Limb Loss (Reading)
Reading comprehension
Classroom activity that has student materials available in paper or online formats
activity where students read transcripts of interviews with people who have a limb difference. Students learn and use reading comprehension strategies to check their understanding and focus their reading on discerning users' needs. View detailed teacher instructions with discussion tips
Learning Objectives

Students will understand that bioengineers design solutions to improve upon, or correct a failing, in the natural world.


Teaching Tips		30-40 min
Manipulations! (Interactive)
Online interactive
Will require internet-connected devices for each student or pair of students
where students learn the elements and functions of hand anatomy systems (bones, muscles, tendons and nerves). Students also practice coordinating the movements of a simulated robotic hand to accomplish simple tasks.
Learning Objectives

Students will recognize that specific motions require coordination between multiple elements of hand anatomy working together.

Students will correctly identify the components of motion in a human hand (muscle fiber contracts → pulls on tendon → moves bone)


Teaching Tips		30-60 min
HandGineering (pdf)
Hands-on engineering project
Classroom activity that has student materials available in paper or online formats
where students design and create prosthetic hands using common classroom materials. Emphasis on user-centered design, the importance of failure, and the process of iteration. (Student work can be done online or on paper) View detailed teacher instructions.
Learning Objectives

When designing a solution, user needs must be considered.

In engineering, failure is a critical part of the process and not something to be avoided.

Engineering requires iterating repeatedly until a workable solution is found.


Teaching Tips		2-4 class periods
A Look into the Lab! (video)
Video
Whole-class activity with no separate student materials
shown partway through the HandGineering activity that offers a glimpse into the workings of a real prosthetics lab.
Teaching Tips		5 min