The Bionic Human

BIOE-0844 - 006

Science & Technology

BIOE0844, Section 006, 38460
Fall, 2025
Instructor: John Furey
Meeting times: MWF 1-2PM

Course Attributes: GS

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

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• Instructor Information

• Purpose of the Course

• The Learning Environment

• Course Schedule

• Grading & Assessment Guidelines

• Technology Guidelines

• Academic Guidelines

Basic Course Information

General Education

This course fulfills the General Education area of Science and Technology

GenEd Science & Technology courses present scientific process in context, helping students understand how scientific phenomena and/or technological change affects human life and the planet.

Science & Technology courses are intended to teach students how to:

• Understand and describe the scientific process
• Understand the sequential nature of science and technology
• Recognize, use and appreciate scientific or technological thinking for solving problems that are part of everyday life
• Understand and communicate how technology encourages the process of discovery in science and related disciplines

• Retrieve, organize, and analyze data associated with a scientific or technological model

Welcome Message

Welcome to The Bionic Human! We’ll be spending the semester together in an exploration of various biomedical research and devices. We will discuss the distinction between man and machine and how far we can push it. We will always frame our discussion around repair vs replacement vs enhancement of the human body. Along the way, you’ll also get an opportunity to learn about key moments in biomedical history and potentially even get some experience in 3D printing.  

Meeting Time and Location

Meeting Time: MWF 1-2PM

Meeting Location (Zoom): https://temple.zoom.us/j/95369145005

We will meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1-2pm unless there is a holiday or previous announcement by the instructor stating otherwise. The zoom link above will be used for all classes throughout the semester. You may access it here or through the Zoom page on the left side panel. 

Emergency Meetings

In the event that we are unable to meet live, expect a Canvas announcement with directions or providing other guidance. In the event of a cancellation, a recording of the lecture will be posted with a discussion post. Office hours will remain by appointment only and are encouraged if you have questions. 

Students are to register for the TUAlert System to be made aware of university closures due to weather or other emergency situations and follow all additional university-wide emergency instructions. Students can register for this system on the Campus Safety Services website.

Please note that online classes are generally not affected by campus closures.

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Instructor Information

My Name: John Furey, PhD Student, Adjunct Faculty

Please refer to me as John.

Instructor Biography

I earned my B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University and am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Neuromotor Science at Temple University, where I’ve been teaching The Bionic Human since Fall 2021. In addition to teaching, I serve as a Senior Research Associate in Neurology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, where I coordinate ALS research. I enjoy guiding students through the exciting intersection of engineering, medicine, and human health, and I look forward to exploring these topics with you this semester. Outside of academics, I spend my time weightlifting and producing and listening to music.

My Contact Information

Please reach out to me at any time for assistance with the course or just to chat about the field or navigating university life. The best way to reach me is to email me at tuf40109@temple.edu. I will generally respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. 

My Office

Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Medical Research Building

3420 N. Broad St., Suite 725

Philadelphia, PA 19140

Student Drop-In Hours

Seeking out individual assistance from the instructor is a normal part of the learning process. I do not have fixed times set aside for drop-in hours but will meet with you by appointment as needed. We can discuss the course content, your progress on the assessments, your future in the field, or anything else you need to talk about. Please email me to make an appointment. I want to help you succeed!

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Purpose of the Course

Overall Purpose

This General Education Science and Technology course expands the breadth of your knowledge and skills, adding to the depth acquired in your major. This course emphasizes the critical competencies of critical thinking, oral/written communication, and information literacy while delving into the advancement of biomedical research and technology. In The Bionic Human, you will explore how engineering and medicine intersect to repair, replace, or enhance the human body, from prosthetics and medical imaging to stem cells and digital health. By connecting these topics to real-world challenges, the course encourages you to see how scientific innovation impacts your health, future career, and everyday life.

Overview of the Course

GenEd Science & Technology courses present scientific process in context, helping students understand how scientific phenomena and/or technological change affects human life and the planet.

Science & Technology courses are intended to teach students how to:

• Understand and describe the scientific process;
• Understand the sequential nature of science and technology;
• Recognize, use and appreciate scientific or technological thinking for solving problems that are part of everyday life;
• Understand and communicate how technology encourages the process of discovery in science and related disciplines; and
• Retrieve, organize, and analyze data associated with a scientific or technological model.

3 Credit Hours

Course Learning Goals 

General Education Competencies and Area Learning Goals

All materials, activities, and assessments of this course are designed to help you achieve these goals. If at any time you feel that you are not making progress towards one of these goals, please reach out to me. It is my job to help you get there!

Competencies: https://bulletin.temple.edu/undergraduate/general-education/#Program_Competencies

Area Goals: https://bulletin.temple.edu/undergraduate/general-education/#GenEd_Courses ]

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The Learning Environment

How Class Will Be Conducted

Most class sessions will combine a brief lecture and occasionally learning activities based upon the assigned reading for the day. On weeks with quizzes, the quiz will open at the end of the first class session (Monday) and close on Thursday of that week at 11:59PM EST. You are expected to complete the preparatory reading, video, or podcast assignment before coming to class in order to ensure that we can all engage in an informed dialogue. I will generally be available for a few minutes after class to discuss individual issues, we may defer lengthy and/or serious matters to an appointment.

Classroom Civility

It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse.

Treat your classmates and instructor with respect in all communication, class activities, and meetings. You are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea, but you are not to attack an individual. Please consider that sarcasm, humor, and slang can be misconstrued in online interactions and generate unintended disruptions. Profanity should be avoided as should the use of all capital letters when composing responses in discussion threads, which can be construed as “shouting” online. Remember to be careful with your own and others' privacy. In general, have your behavior mirror how you would like to be treated by others.

For more information, please visit the IDEAL website.

Materials

Optional Materials

The textbook for this course is “Healthcare and Biomedical Technology in the 21st Century: An Introduction for Non-Science Majors” by George R. Baran, Mohammad F. Kiani, Solomon Praveen Samuel. However, it is not required. 

ISBN-10: 9781461485407

This book may be purchased from Amazon or the Temple bookstore

Links to other required readings, videos, etc., will be supplied electronically in Canvas in the appropriate module. These items will be provided to you at no additional cost.

Software or Other Supplies

If you need access to basic software for creating documents, slideshows, or spreadsheets, you have free access to Microsoft 365.

Whether you use a paper or digital tool, you should have a calendar for managing your schedule. I use Outlook calendar, a software available to you as part of the Microsoft 365 suite of tools. Similarly, I expect you to take notes while reading course materials and during lectures, but the choice is yours whether to use software or paper.

Accessibility

It is important to me that every student has the opportunity to succeed in this course. Please reach out to me if any obstacle is in the way of your success.

Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) located in the Howard Gittis Student Center South, 4th Floor at drs@temple.edu or 215-204-1280 to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential. Students can learn more about the accommodation process and pre-register on the DRS website. Students may register at any time during the semester, but accommodations are not active until you register, so I recommend doing so as early in the semester as possible.

Information regarding accessibility for additional technologies is provided below:  [add/delete as appropriate]

• Canvas
• Zoom
• VoiceThread
• ProctorU
• Proctorio
• Google Drive
• Outlook
• Sharepoint
• Padlet

Resources and Support

Sometimes the biggest factors impacting student success are things happening beyond the scope of the individual classroom. Temple provides a wide array of resources both to help you overcome academic challenges and those not directly related to the educational challenges of the course. Please reach out to me if you need help deciding which resources might be right for you.

Student Success Center

University Libraries

Undergraduate Research Support

Career Center

Tuttleman Counseling Services

Disability Resources and Services

Wellness Resource Center

Student Health Services

If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry is in operation, as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.

Library Resources

Temple University Libraries provide resources to assist Temple students with their class projects and research needs. Visit the Libraries’ website to find millions of articles, books, video, and other resources, both in print and online.

The site also provides tutorials to help you start your research, as well as subject and course research guides to help you identify resources that may be particularly useful for this class.

Contact the library at any stage of the research process. You can chat with a librarian 24/7 or make an appointment with your subject librarian, who can help you explore a topic, craft a research question, and identify and cite sources.

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Course Schedule

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Grading & Assessment Guidelines

Grading Scale

Course Minimum Grade*

A grade of “C-” or better is required in all GenEd courses for you to satisfy a General Education requirement.*

I will do my best to warn you if you are in danger of not meeting this minimum, but you should reach out to me if you become worried about not achieving the minimum needed grade.

Assessment Summary

The assessments in this course have been created for two reasons: (1) For you to demonstrate your progress towards the learning goals for the course and receive useful feedback. (2) For you to practice skills and develop ways of thinking that will be of use to you in the future.

Late Submissions/Missed Exams & Quizzes

Life gets in the way for all of us from time to time. Please notify me if you may miss a deadline or an exam/quiz as soon as possible. Please do not delay in informing; as soon as you suspect a problem, let me know. Depending on the timing and the specific assessment, I may ask you to give me a copy of your current draft. Whether you will be given an additional opportunity to complete the assessment will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Class Attendance & Participation

Your attendance and participation are expected at all our class meetings. The classroom is an inherently social environment where we are all mutually responsible for each other’s learning. I encourage you to make friends so that, in the event that you must miss class, you can borrow someone’s notes for the session. Furthermore, if you miss class, we lose your perspective in classroom discussions and learning activities. If unforeseen circumstances cause you to miss multiple sessions, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss the situation.

School-Life Conflict

Many unpredictable things can happen over the course of a semester. If you find yourself struggling to balance your education and your other commitments, please reach out to me immediately so that we can work together to build a plan for your success. Some of the resources in the next section may also be of use to you.

Attendance and Your Health

To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to the course requirements. However, if you have tested positive for or are experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. It is your responsibility to contact me to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as you can, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion.

Religious Holidays

It is your right to observe religious holidays without impacting your opportunity to learn and succeed in this course. Please reach out to me at the start of the semester so that deadlines can be reviewed in advance of your religious observations. You will still be held responsible for course content and any assignments, but you will not lose points for attendance and participation on days important to your faith.

Caregiver Responsibilities

I have great respect for students who are pursuing their education while responsible for the care of children or other family members. Please contact me if you encounter challenges that require you to miss a class session or if your caregiving responsibilities are interfering with your success in the course. Together, we may be able to find some flexibility to support your learning.

Withdrawal

If you are considering withdrawing from the course after the add/drop date, please don’t make that decision alone! Withdrawing from the course without talking to me first eliminates the possibility of finding a path to success for you. Furthermore, it is extremely important that you consult your academic advisor before withdrawing. They will be able to walk you through how the withdrawal would impact your progress towards your degree and your graduation date.

Please check the academic calendar for the last day to withdraw from a course.

Incomplete

A student will be eligible for a grade of “Incomplete” only if the student: 1) has completed at least 51% of the work at a passing level, 2) is unable to complete the work for a serious reason beyond their control, and 3) files a signed agreement with the instructor outlining the work to be completed and the time frame in which that work will be completed. The student is responsible for initiating this process, and all incomplete forms must be sent to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to the start of study days in that semester.  

Please refer to the following for further details: Temple University’s Incomplete Policy. (Policy #02.10.13). 

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Technology Guidelines

Technology Requirements

To participate in this course, you will need the equipment, software, and internet access necessary to reliably use Zoom and Canvas, as well as “productivity tools” like word processors and slide show creators.

Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wifi access, should submit a Student Technology Assistance Application located in TUPortal and linked from the Dean of Students Support and Resources. The University will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Mifi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access.

Note that there are technology resources available for students, including on-campus computers available for student use, the Tech Center computer labs and free laptop and battery borrowing at Charles Library, software that is available for free download and other specialty software that may be available for remote access through ITS.

Technical Support

For a listing of technical support services available to Temple University students, see the Tech Support page.

Live Chat or Request Help: help.temple.edu

Phone: 215-204-8000

Email:  help@temple.edu

Website: its.temple.edu

Location: The TECH Center, Room 106

Technology Usage

Excellence in any endeavor requires attention. To that end, we need to be mindful of the unnecessary use of technology in the class. To avoid distracting yourself or others, please only use your laptop, phone, or other device for activities relevant to the course. If you find yourself needing to take a call or participate in a text, please excuse yourself from the classroom and return as soon as you are able.

Class Recording

Our Zoom meetings will be recorded, and you will have access to these through the end of the course. These recordings are intended to be for University academic and research purposes only. Individuals are not permitted to record, copy, publish, or redistribute audio or video recordings of any portion of the session to individuals who are not associated with the University without the express permission of the host/faculty member and of any other meeting participants who are recorded. Distribution without permission could be a violation of various privacy laws, including FERPA, as well as the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act, and possibly copyright law.

Attending Zoom meetings using an AI proxy is not allowed.

The zoom meetings will be using Zoom AI Companion. See Guidelines for Generative Artificial Intelligence].

Privacy and Data Protection

Please see the links below to become familiar with the privacy policies for each of the following: 

• Temple University
• Canvas Instructure
• Zoom

AI Policies 

The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot, etc.) are not permitted in this class; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Temple University’s Academic Honesty policy and Student Conduct Code, since the work is not your own. The suspected use of unauthorized AI tools will result in review of the material and penalty will be determined on case-by-case basis.

Remote Proctoring 

Proctorio or a similar proctoring tool may be used to proctor exams and quizzes in this course. These tools verify your identity and record online actions. It is the learner’s responsibility to have the necessary government or school-issued ID, a laptop or desktop computer with a reliable internet connection, the Google Chrome and Proctorio extension, a webcam/built-in camera and microphone, and system requirements for using Proctorio or a similar proctoring tool.

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Academic Guidelines

Academic Freedom

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. I have the freedom and responsibility to design and facilitate our learning environment to best achieve the promise of the course as outlined in its official description. You have the responsibility to engage with the course in good faith and freedom from mistreatment when your opinion differs from mine. Note that it is not an abuse of this freedom for me to require that you support relevant opinions with clear argumentation and solid evidence. For more on academic freedom, consult the official Temple policy on the matter.

Academic Integrity

Temple University believes strongly in academic honesty and integrity. Plagiarism and academic cheating are, therefore, prohibited. All work you submit for assessment should be your own efforts. For more on this topic, consult the relevant portions of Temple Bulletin and the Student Conduct Code.

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