Abstract:

The rapid digital transformation of healthcare requires professionals who can understand and engage with technological innovation, even when their primary field of study lies outside science and engineering fields. This work presents the design and implementation of a Maker Day focused on digital health technologies, aimed at engaging students from non-STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Artes, and Mathematics) academic programs in hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experiences.

The event was organized at the Escola Superior de Saúde of the Polytechnic of Porto and brought together more than 140 students from different polytechnic institutions and diverse academic fields, including health sciences, management and communication. Participants were organized into multidisciplinary teams of approximately ten members, intentionally composed of students from different study areas and institutions to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Throughout the day, students were challenged to collaboratively develop innovative technological solutions addressing real-world digital health problems. The activities were structured around three thematic areas: digitalization and robotics applied to healthcare, sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for clinical monitoring, and three-dimensional (3D) printing and digital fabrication for personalized medical devices and anatomical models.

The Maker Day adopted a challenge-based learning approach in which students explored technologies through experimentation, creativity and teamwork. Faculty members and technical staff provided continuous mentoring and technical support during the development process. The event culminated in a final pitching session where teams presented their proposed solutions to a panel. To stimulate motivation and recognize innovation, monetary prizes were awarded to the three best teams, supported through external funding.

Preliminary observations suggest that this intensive maker-style experience significantly increased student engagement with digital health topics and encouraged participants from non-technical backgrounds to explore emerging technologies. The initiative demonstrates how short, collaborative innovation events can promote technological literacy, creativity and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills in higher education, contributing to the development of competencies increasingly relevant for the future of digital healthcare.

Keywords:

Digital Health, Education, Challenge-Based Learning.