REU Site: American Student Placements in Rehabilitation Engineering

美国康复工程(ASPIRE)本科生实习实习计划(REU)由美国国家科学基金会工程教育与中心分部资助。康复工程采用一种系统的方法来设计、修改、定制和/或制造用于残疾人的辅助技术。康复工程学的研究重点是确定和解决在与行动、通信、感觉(例如，听觉、触觉、视觉)和认知相关的领域以及与就业、独立生活和教育相关的活动中实现和保持尽可能高水平功能的关键问题。ASPIRE REU计划的主要目标是提供一个模范的指导和足智多谋的环境，使本科生1)从依赖他人的人转变为独立的思考者，2)培养进入工程或技术领域的兴奋感，3)为他们未来的职业生涯做好准备。招生计划强调少数群体和残疾学生。此外，来自研究机会有限的机构的学生将得到特别考虑。研讨会、讲习班和实地考察补充了实验室以外的教育经验。该REU网站的学生是多学科研究团队的积极参与者，并获得更大规模或试验性研究项目的部分所有权。ASPIRE REU计划的更广泛影响是赋予本科生在研究生学习和未来作为工程师或科学家的职业生涯中出类拔萃所需的信心、经验和技能，所有这些都是在康复工程项目的背景下进行的，这些项目的副产品增加了残疾人的独立性。项目导师在提供适当水平的指导以支持学生独立发展这些属性方面经验丰富。这所皇家大学的学生通过成为“更大”事物不可或缺的一部分，形成了一种价值感。此外，这个REU网站为学生提供了从事直接应用于社会改善的项目的机会。在他们早期的学术生涯中拥有这样的经历，不仅提高了人们对作为一名工程师的社会义务的认识，还提供了一种“超越课堂的体验”，为工程课程带来了目的和意义。

The American Student Placements and Internships in Rehabilitation Engineering (ASPIRE) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program is funded by the National Science Foundation Division of Engineering Education and Centers. Rehabilitation engineering employs a systematic approach to the design, modification, customization and/or fabrication of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. Research efforts in rehabilitation engineering are focused on identifying and addressing problems critical to achieving and maintaining the highest possible level of function in areas related to mobility, communications, sensory (e.g., hearing, tactile, vision), and cognition and in activities associated with employment, independent living, and education. The primary objective of the ASPIRE REU program is to provide an exemplary mentoring and resourceful environment that enables undergraduate students to 1) transition from dependent to independent thinkers, 2) develop a sense of excitement about entering an engineering or technical field and 3) be well prepared for their future careers. Recruitment initiatives emphasize minorities and students with disabilities. Additionally, students who come from institutions with limited research opportunities will receive special consideration. Seminars, workshops and field trips supplement the educational experience outside of the laboratories. Students in this REU Site are an active participant of a multi-disciplinary research team and acquire ownership of part of a larger-scale or pilot research project.The broader impact of the ASPIRE REU program is about empowering undergraduate students with the confidence, experience and skills necessary to excel in graduate studies and in their future careers as engineers or scientists, all within the context of rehabilitation engineering projects whose byproducts increase the independence of people with disabilities. Program mentors are well experienced in providing the appropriate level of guidance needed to support the students' independent development of these attributes. Students in this REU develop a sense of worth that comes from being an integral part of something 'bigger'. Moreover, this REU Site provides opportunities for students to work on projects that have direct application to the betterment of society. Having this experience early in their academic careers not only raises awareness to the social obligations of being an engineer, but also provides a "beyond the classroom experience" that brings purpose and meaning to an engineering curriculum.