Experiential Learning in Biomedical Engineering Education Using Wearable Devices: A Case Study in a Biomedical Signals and Systems Analysis Course

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The article under review is a case study of the application of wearable devices in a specific topic of biomedical engineering education. The topic is relevant and interesting, because this type of didactic tools are appropriate and efficient for the teaching of contents that involve complex and abstract concepts, such as those addressed by the authors. The research methodology is adequate and the exposition is well structured and well written. However, there are some aspects that should be improved before the article is published: 

1. The theoretical framework admits a wide margin to be expanded. In particular, it would be interesting to explain the use of ICT tools aimed at an experimental approach to technical education and to cite the works that have been dealing with the analysis of learning outcomes and satisfaction in this regard.

2. The sample sizes are small, which clearly limits the scope of the results. This fact also conditions the choice of tools for statistical analysis. I think the authors should explain in more detail why they use the hypothesis testing tools they use and what assumptions they make about the affected distributions in order to use them. In particular, why they reject the use of nonparametric tests, such as the Wilcoxon test, for the comparison of samples, which are more robust with small samples that are not normally distributed. It should also be explained why the authors claim that the students' responses to the opinion survey are normally distributed (if they have applied any normality test).

3. I suggest including in the Discussion section an analysis of the results obtained in comparison with the results presented in the previous specialized literature.

Minor considerations:

- Are there more updated data for the number of biomedical engineers (line 26).

- The line spacing should be revised in some parts of the text (pages 3, 4, 9, 10).

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Although the topic is emerging and can attract attention from readers all over the worlld this paper still needs some work:

- First of all, the way in which it is written is too poor as the focus is on the biomedical engineering, I mean this is an education journal and need more background realted to education. I suggest some references to give the background in the use of technology in the classrooms which is a very studied topic in the last years (https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.5944/ried.24.1.28415,  https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.52700/assap.v3i1.63, https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.52700/assap.v1i2, https://revistas.uned.es/index.php/ried/article/view/26247, https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.29140/jaltcall.v18n2.632)

 

 

-Moreove,r in the methodology section you need to expalin why the number of participants vary along the study (just 8 people in the control group of te survey).

 

-Concluding section as it has lack of backgroun to support data is too superficial, so please revise the manuscript and give that backgrpound that allow you to conclude.

 

-Moreover, paper needs a trong revision as it has several mistakes and missprints. I suggest to carefully read the whole manuscript before resending.

Based on the above criteria I suggest major revision.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

I thank the authors for their responses. In my opinion, after the modifications that have been made, the article has been strengthened, it is well written and structured, and the methodology used is adequate and correctly developed. Also, as I indicated in my first review, the results about the use of mobile technological resources for bioengineering education are interesting. However, I suggest strengthening the literature review with a paragraph on the use of general tools in engineering education in general, to enlighten the reader on the state of the art in this regard. In this regard, I suggest some references:

https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1002/cae.22504

https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1007/978-3-030-96296-8_56

https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/informatics7020013 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

All my comments have been considered and paper as really improved its quality. I recommend acceptance.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf