ABET requires engineering programs to demonstrate that students recognize the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning. Throughout my education at The Ohio State University, I have learned how to use other professional’s research and technical knowledge to further my learning. Ohio State provides unlimited library access to peer-reviewed literature. I have used this information while working on my capstone project. I am designing a assistive technology to help people with disabilities get into the cab of a skid loader. Going into my project, I needed to learn about different assistive technologies and secondary injury associated with improper use. I was able to use the Ohio State library and other literature collections to find research about these topics to better understand the scope of my project. This allowed my team and I to discover methods that some farmers were already using and determine how we would be able alter their designs and make them safer and easier to use.
Eventually I would like to continue working in assistive technology and prosthetics. Lifelong learning will be important in my career to stay up to date with current practices and advancements in assistive technology. I will be able to use peer-reviewed literature, conferences, and continuing education classes to learn once I am out of college. I also plan to go back for my masters after a few years in the field to further advance my knowledge and research experiences. This will allow me to learn even more and hopefully present my research at multiple conferences.
Lifelong learning is extremely important to engineers and anyone working in a medical and technology based field, such as myself. My undergraduate degree at Ohio State has provided me with numerous opportunities to continue learning and I plan to continue utilizing these opportunities post graduation.