Developing Devices for People with Disabilities: Challenges and Gains of Project-Based Service Learning

摘要

The development of a product according to specific requirements is the engineers' core mission. Therefore, engineering programs need to equip their graduates with the tools to deal with the entire cycle of product development. Project-Based Service Learning (PBSL) is a hands-on pedagogical approach that involves the development of a product for the benefit of society. PBSL provides students with opportunities to design and develop innovative solutions for real clients with real needs.The study focuses on the perceptions of 13 mechanical engineering graduates who participated in a one-semester Rehabilitation Biomechanics course that includes development of tailor-made and low-cost assistive devices for people with special needs. The study aims to evaluate the long-term impact of PBSL on graduates, after several years of employment in industry. The course is a part of an ORT Braude College of Engineering flagship project: "Engineers on Behalf of People with Disabilities". The study uses the Grounded Theory qualitative research methodology that allows revealing ideas that could not be foreseen.Interviews with the graduates exposed the challenges they experienced during the course as well as the gains. They have developed an awareness of the roles of engineering solutions in assisting people with special needs. The direct and challenging interaction with disabled customers changed their attitudes towards people with special needs, and developed in them an empathetic Client-Centered Design approach. The PBSL experience influenced graduates' interests, careers, and personal development, and the skills they brought to their workplaces.Research shows how PBSL may bridge the gap between theory and practice, looking at the community as a legitimate partner in the development of innovations. An outcome of the flagship project is the founding of an online "Knowledge Base for Daily Life Activities (DLA) Solutions" resource, which is available to the public.