The experience at Kodak far exceeded my expectations of learning about instrument manufacturing. Their principle of dry slide technology was not new to me but observing the entire manufacturing process from research and development to customer delivery and support led me to appreciate the quality of their laboratory products. Meeting with Dr. Margaret Smith-Lewis, senior research chemist, resulted in another unexpected benefit. She explained to me that team effort is what makes it possible for Kodak to produce quality products with superior performance and encouraged me to try experiential team-based learning in my college classroom. As a result, the emphasis in my instrumentation class this semester focuses on a team approach to troubleshooting and problem solving.
Students work together in small groups to share knowledge and experiences.
Feedback from them has been positive. Medical technologies with problem solving skills and experience in group dynamics will be valuable assets to clinical laboratories in tomorrow's marketplace. In December I returned to northern Wisconsin for a visit to the large medical clinic and spect a few days at Hartford Parkview Clinic. All of the instrumentation I viewed is based on principles and theory identical to those taught in my course. It is merely an application of these principles that differs with advanced technology in the most sophisticated instruments.