Biomedical Technology Pathway for Students

What Does BETA Actually Look Like for a Student?

A Look Inside Southeast Minnesota’s Biomedical Technology Pathway

For a student considering a career in healthcare, technology or engineering, it can be difficult to picture what those careers actually look like before graduation.

The Biomedical Electronics and Technology Academy (BETA) is designed to help change that.

BETA gives students an opportunity to explore biomedical equipment technology through a combination of coursework, hands-on learning and connections to the professionals and workplaces where this technology is used every day.

It is career-connected learning designed to move beyond simply telling students about a career. Students have opportunities to learn, apply, experience and begin imagining where those skills could take them.

What Will Students Learn?

Biomedical equipment technology sits at the intersection of healthcare and technology.

Hospitals and healthcare organizations rely on a wide range of medical equipment and technology to provide patient care. The professionals who work with that equipment need technical knowledge, troubleshooting skills, attention to detail and an understanding of how their work supports the larger healthcare system.

Through BETA, students begin developing knowledge and skills connected to biomedical equipment technology while exploring what careers in this field can look like.

The experience is intended to help students answer questions such as:

• How does medical technology work?

• What skills are needed to maintain and troubleshoot equipment?

• What does a biomedical equipment technology career involve?

• What education or training comes next?

• Is this a career pathway I could see myself pursuing?

Students do not need to enter BETA already knowing the answers. Exploration is part of the experience.

Learning by Doing

One of the most important parts of career-connected learning is giving students opportunities to apply what they are learning. BETA combines academic learning with hands-on experiences that help students connect concepts to real-world situations.

Instead of learning about technology only from a textbook or presentation, students can begin developing the problem-solving, technical and analytical skills that are important in biomedical technology careers. That hands-on approach also allows students to discover something equally important: whether they enjoy this kind of work.

A student may enter the program because of an interest in healthcare and discover a passion for technology. Another may enjoy electronics or engineering and realize those interests can lead to a career supporting patient care. Both are valuable discoveries!

Connecting the Classroom to the Workplace

BETA is also designed to help students understand how their learning connects to an actual career environment.

Coursework is paired with career-connected experiences and opportunities to learn from professionals in the field. Internship experiences help students see how the knowledge and skills they are developing are applied in real workplaces.

Those connections can make career decisions much more informed. Instead of choosing a pathway based only on a job title or a college program description, students have an opportunity to better understand the work, the environment and the expectations before making their next decision.

More Than Technical Skills

Technical knowledge is important, but employers also consistently need people who can solve problems, communicate effectively, work with others and adapt as technology changes.

BETA helps students develop those kinds of durable skills alongside their technical learning.

Students may strengthen skills such as:

Problem-solving. Identifying what is happening, considering possible solutions and determining the best next step.

Communication. Explaining information clearly, asking good questions and working with instructors, mentors and professionals.

Teamwork. Understanding that healthcare and technology professionals rarely work in isolation.

Adaptability. Learning how to approach unfamiliar equipment, situations and technologies.

Professionalism. Developing the habits and expectations that help students transition successfully from school into postsecondary education and the workplace.

These skills are valuable well beyond one career pathway.

Who Should Consider BETA?

Students do not need to have their entire career mapped out before participating.

BETA may be especially interesting for students who are curious about:

• healthcare

• electronics

• technology

• engineering

• troubleshooting

• hands-on problem-solving

• how medical equipment works

It can also be valuable for students who know they enjoy science or technology but are still exploring exactly where those interests might lead.

Career exploration is not about requiring students to make an early commitment. It is about giving them enough information and experience to make better choices.

From Exploration to Experience

Career-connected learning becomes especially powerful when students can move from learning about a career to experiencing parts of it themselves. BETA is designed to create that progression.

Students explore biomedical technology, build knowledge through coursework, practice skills through hands-on learning and connect those experiences to real professionals and workplaces. For students and families, that can make the transition from high school to college, training or employment feel much less abstract. Students begin to see not simply a course they are taking, but a pathway they could follow.

Interested in BETA?

Students, families and educators interested in BETA can learn more about the Biomedical Electronics and Technology Academy through Southeast Service Cooperative.

As the program develops, SSC will continue sharing information about student experiences, career opportunities, partnerships and the growing biomedical technology pathway in Southeast Minnesota.

Career exploration starts with discovering what is possible. BETA gives students a chance to take the next step and experience it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BETA?
BETA is the Biomedical Electronics and Technology Academy, a career-connected learning pathway designed to help students explore biomedical equipment technology through coursework, hands-on learning and real-world career experiences.

Do students need previous experience with biomedical technology?
No. BETA is designed to help students explore and develop their understanding of the field. Interest in healthcare, technology, electronics, engineering or problem-solving can be a good starting point.

What will students learn in BETA?
Students develop knowledge related to biomedical equipment technology while strengthening technical, problem-solving, communication, teamwork and professional skills.

Is BETA hands-on?
Yes. Hands-on learning is an important part of the student experience and helps students connect classroom concepts with the type of problem-solving and technical work used in biomedical technology careers.

Does BETA include real-world career experience?
BETA is designed to connect coursework with career-connected learning, including opportunities for students to learn from professionals and participate in workplace-based experiences such as internships.

Who should consider BETA?
Students interested in healthcare, technology, electronics, engineering, troubleshooting or hands-on problem-solving may find BETA especially relevant. Students who are still exploring their career interests are also encouraged to learn more.

What can BETA lead to after high school?
BETA helps students better understand biomedical technology careers and the postsecondary education, training and employment pathways that may follow high school.

How can students and families learn more?
Students, families and educators can visit Southeast Service Cooperative’s BETA resources for current program information, participation details and upcoming opportunities.