Hi all, it’s me again!
I’m back with a review of my Semester 1 courses for Part II Biomedical Engineering. This semester has been quite the journey, filled with challenging yet fascinating content, hands-on experiences, and many stressful moments. I’ve learned a lot and have some useful tips to share with you all. So without further ado, let’s dive into the details of each course and what you can expect.
ENGSCI 211: Mathematical Modelling 2
One of my favourite couses! This is a course everyone takes, so the lecture room tends to be very full for the first few weeks. I recommend arriving early if you can to secure a good seat. The course content is very similar to ENGSCI 111, but it’s definitely a step up in terms of difficulty. If you’ve already forgotten the material from ENGSCI 111 (which was the case for me), I highly recommend revising it over the summer break. Many students actually get questions wrong because they forget the ENGSCI 111 content. Really make sure you know how to do integration well.
One aspect of the course that I didn’t particularly enjoy was the statistics part. It’s not like NCEA statistics, but it still involves a lot of writing and data analysis. Overall, just do lots of practice questions and you’ll be in good shape:)
BIOSCI 107: Biology for Biomedical Science: Cellular Processes
If you’re a high school student considering Biomedical Engineering (BME), it’s highly recommended to take Level 2 Biology if possible. This foundational knowledge will be incredibly beneficial. However, if you weren’t able to take this course, use the summer break to learn NCEA Level 2 Biology content. There are a lot of new terms and concepts to grasp, and the material is quite content-heavy with fast-paced lectures. Expect this as this is a pre-med course.
Very very important not to let lectures build up. Keep revising throughout the semester to stay on top of the material. Many people recommend using Notion for note-taking and organization, but I personally found it more efficient to repeatedly read through the lecture slides. When you’re trying to understand the material initially, reading the textbook can be very helpful. Then when it’s time to memorise the content, everything you need to know is in the lecture slides, so focus on those. Additionally, I recommend revising lecture content and reading the lab manual before every lab session. This preparation will help you understand the experiments better and make the most out of your lab time.
One of the things I like about this course is that it doesn’t give you any assignments. Without assignments, you can focus more on understanding the lectures and prepping for tests and exam. Also, despite the course content being very challenging, it’s incredibly fascinating and interesting. Overall, the course is demanding but rewarding.
For a more detailed review, please see the SAMS review below.
https://www.samsuoa.com/biosci107
BIOMENG 221: Mechanics of Engineered and Biological Materials
In sem 1, both Engsci and BME students share a similar course structure, with the exception of one course(biosci 107). So BIOMENG 221 is also one of these shared courses. It is quite similar to ENGGEN 121 and CHEMMAT 121, covering topics such as fluid dynamics, linear elasticity, torsion, and more.
The test and exam questions for this course tend to be fairly repetitive, making it highly efficient to focus your study efforts on past papers. By thoroughly practicing these past questions, you can get a good feel for the types of problems that are likely to appear. One hugely great thing about this course is that the tests are open book. This means you can bring all your notes and other resources with you, including your iPad, as long as you don’t go online. Being able to use the search function on the textbook file really helped and made preparing for the tests a bit less stressful.
ENGSCI 233: Computational Techniques and Computer Systems
Personally, I found ENSCI 233 to be the most stressful of all the Semester 1 courses. It’s a coding paper quite similar to ENGGEN 131, but you also learn a new language, Python. Additionally, it includes learning about hardware using the micro:bit, a cute little device that helps you understand hardware and communication concepts. This course has assignments every two weeks, which keeps you constantly busy and engaged. Debugging these assignments can be particularly stressful, as it often requires a lot of time and patience to get everything working correctly.
Similar to ENGGEN 131, you learn mostly by doing the labs, so make sure to attend and actively participate in them. It’s important not to rely on tools like ChatGPT for your assignments. In the exam, there are questions that require you to write out codes, so it’s crucial to be comfortable with coding through regular practice.
But don’t worry, the labs are held at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI), and the TAs are there to help you with the assignments. There are also some fun and rewarding aspects. Playing games using the micro:bit with friends can be enjoyable and makes the hard work feel worthwhile.
Overall, the combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application makes it a comprehensive and engaging course.
ENGGEN 299: Workshop Practice
This is a pass/fail 0-point course. It’s a very fun course that offers a hands-on experience. You need to go to the Newmarket campus for this course. It might be hard to find your way at first, so I recommend arriving early to get your bearings.
The course has two parts to it. In Semester 1, you get to make a brushless motor. This is the motor I made, and it’s really cool. I had so much fun working on it.
That wraps up my review of Semester 1 courses for Part II BME. Remember, attending lectures in person is crucial because it’s the best way to stay on top of the material and not fall behind. Being present allows you to engage directly with the lecturer, ask questions, and participate in discussions, which can significantly enhance your understanding. Plus, you’ll be able to connect with your peers, form study groups, and share insights, making the learning experience more collaborative and enjoyable.
Good luck with your studies, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need further advice! 😊
-Jena<3