Darrell Kleinke, PhD, PE - Engineering

Molly McClelland, R.N., M.S.N, PhD – Nursing

Teaching Innovation Using

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

INTRODUCTION

Mission, Design & Overview

UDM Mission

The University of Detroit Mercy, a Catholic

university in the Jesuit and Mercy

traditions, exists to provide excellent

student-centered undergraduate and

graduate education in an urban context. A

UDM education seeks to integrate the

intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social

development of our students.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration• Interdisciplinary collaboration in higher

education has the potential to create fertile

grounds for learning beyond that of a single

discipline approach.

• Current literature suggests collaboration across

disciplines stimulates reflection, leads to

increased awareness of one’s own

perspective, facilitates dialogue, and creates a

common ground for both the students and

faculty

Disability Statistics

UDM

Mission

Development of Assistive

TechnologyImproved Lives

Enhanced Learning

Interdisciplinary

Collaboration

Physically

DisabledOu

r D

esig

n

THE PROCESS

ME 493 & NUR 498

Capstone Design Class

Solving Industrial Design Problems

Preparation & Presentation of Product Proposals

Focus on Technical Details & Specifications

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering Course ObjectivesRecognize societal or business needs and properly formulate the corresponding problem.

Conduct literature, patent and standards search to establish the state of the art of a design problem.

Carry out and apply the design process beginning from a recognized need and ending in a final and complete design.

Separate complex systems into major components and then apply the design process and mathematical modeling on each subsystem.

Use state of the art computer software to conduct virtual prototyping.

Work in diverse teams consisting of students, faculty and industry sponsors.

Professionally communicate and present ideas, concepts and design details.

Nursing Course Objectives

Partake in the process of product development as a health consultant.

Educate team members on the health related effects of client’s physical disabilities.

Examine the product at all stages for safety and health promotion.

Collaborate with interdisciplinary students and faculty throughout the design process.

Facilitate interaction between the client and other team members especially pertaining to health related issues.

Provide health related expertise throughout all steps of product design and implementation.

EXAMPLE OF PROCESS

Improving right-sided hemiparesis

The “Client”

Area of the client’s brain injury

Designing the Product

Goals:

Durable

Reliable

Safe

Portable

Required vsDesired

Gantt Chart

Discussing Ideas

Problem Statement

• Client ------ from Michigan Rehabilitation

Services is experiencing difficulties in

obtaining employment due to reduced

functionality of his right arm.

Methodology Overview

First semester ME 493 Second semester ME 495

Block Gantt Chart Final (7/31/09)

Identif ication of Needs Needs List

Marketing Analysis Memo Response Report

Formulation of Problem Resultant of Why-Why Diagram, Statement Restatement, and Future Diagram

Synthesis and Abstraction Brainstorming Session, Rough Draft of Possible Designs

Design Planned Decision Date: Choose Design to Pursue

Analysis Perform Calculations

Implementation Machine Design

Final Testing Final Report

Delivery Deliver

June July

Gantt Chart Senior Design Proposal

February March April May

Planned Duration

Actual Duration

Sequential Dependency

Milestone

Discussing Ideas with Client

Experimented Wrist Braces and Gloves

Purely Mechanical Design (Iteration 1)

Purely Mechanical Design (Iteration 2)

Back to the “Drawing Board”

Purely Mechanical Design (Iteration 3)

Clip Spring Device

Bottom View Side View

Shearing and Bending Fabrication Methods (Multiple Iterations)

2: Bottom

View, Top Jaw

Prototype Iteration

5

1: Side View, Top

and Bottom Jaw

Prototype Iteration

3: Bottom Jaw

Initial Template

12

3

Fourth Prototype

2: Top View

1: Bottom View

3: Side View

1 32

OTHER PROJECTS

MS Client using ankle strengthener

Torso Exerciser for Paraplegic

Triceps strengthener for paraplegic

Additional Projects for the Disabled

Cribs for wheelchair bound mothers

Baby carriers for Mom’s in wheelchairs

Walkers with built in lifts to assist with falls

Motorized attachments for wheelchairs

LIMITATIONS & LESSONS

Limitations

• Ambiguous student expectations between

disciplines.

• Scheduling student meetings between

disciplines.

• Different student outcomes/objectives

between disciplines.

Benefits

• Learning collaboration skills across

disciplines

• Working in teams to assist physically

disabled people.

• Client & Student satisfaction.

• Physically disabled people gaining helpful

assistive devices to improve their lives.

QUESTIONS?

Feel free to contact us with additional questions

regarding Multidisciplinary Education.

Darrell Kleinke - kleinked@udmercy.edu

Molly McClelland - mcclelml@udmercy.edu

Census Bureau, U.S., Michigan. Census 2000 Summary File 3. . 2000.

http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US26&-

qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP2&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&redoLog=false

Holley, Karri. 2009. The challenge of an interdisciplinary curriculum: a cultural

analysis of a doctoral-degree program in neuroscience. Higher

Education, 58(2):241-255.

Kijima, Kyoichi Jim. 2008. Guest editorial. Systems Research and Behavioral

Science, 25(5): 583-586.

Öberg, Gunilla. 2009. Facilitating interdisciplinary work: using quality assessment

to create common ground." Higher Education, 57(4):405-415.

Wright, Geoffrey, Skaggs, Paul, Fry, Richard and Phelps, Richard. 2009.

Increasing the Innovation Ability and Aptitude of Technology and Engineering

Students Through Focused Collaborative, Cross-disciplinary Design Thinking

Boot Camps. Proceedings of the ASEE Annual, Austin, TX.

References

The End

University of Detroit Mercy