Silvia De la Flor D. Ramos, X. Zamora, F. Ferrando, L. López de Zamora Incorporating critical thinking in Structural Mechanics using a Project Based Learning strategy Silvia De la Flor D. Ramos, X. Zamora, F. Ferrando, L. López de Zamora Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica UNIVERSITAT ROVIRA I VIRGILI TARRAGONA (ESPAÑA) Faculty of Education of the University of Extremadura Badajoz (Spain), June 21st- 23rd 2017

Contextualization Contextualization Design and Experimental Project (DEP) subjects in Mechanical Degree Teaching method mainly practical Versatile and resolute Engineers Blended Teaching strategy Theory/practice Unique Teaching Method in the URV Contextualization

What are these subjects? The main objective of these subjects is to enhance and promote the students’ critical thinking skills in the different disciplines where a Mechanical Engineer can develop the professional career Contextualization Three project-based subjects: one for each course in Mechanical Degree

What do we do? 1st Course: 2nd Course: 3rd Course: Designing and construction (when possible) mechanical prototypes focused in different mechanical engineering discipline 1st Course: Statics and Dynamics of simple Machinery 2nd Course: Contextualization Structural Mechanics 3rd Course: Machine Elements and Components

STUDENTS WORK IN GROUPS Second Course DEP Developing 4 structural Projects during the annual course STUDENTS WORK IN GROUPS They conceive, design, prototype and construct a mechanical product Conducted in workshop mode With cases and hands-on exercises Reinforcing the key ideas CLASS SESSIONS TOPICS INCLUDE engineering and construction project-management strategies: from the initial conceptual phase, through design and construction, to completion. Objective

PROJECT 1: simple truss made of canes designed to support a water tank Projects Developed DIFFERENT DESIGNS

PROJECT 1: simple truss made of canes designed to support a water tank WEIGHING PUNCTUATING Projects Developed TESTING!!!

Projects Developed DIFFERENT DESIGNS PROJECT 2: truss design made of spaghetti simulating a high voltage tower Projects Developed DIFFERENT DESIGNS

Projects Developed TESTING PROJECT 2: truss design made of spaghetti simulating a high voltage tower Projects Developed TESTING

PROJECT 3: a wall bracket made of copper wire Projects Developed DIFFERENT DESIGNS

PROJECT 3: a wall bracket made of copper wire TESTING Projects Developed

PROJECT 4: a bridge for a train made of rigid wires DIFFERENT DESIGNS Projects Developed

PROJECT 4: a bridge for a train made of rigid wires Projects Developed TESTING

Do our students develop critical thinking? CRITICAL THINKING IS…. Structured Cognitive Processes that led to a clear, concise and rational decision making Understand principles and fundamentals Reason and argue in detail… Methods Question…. YES IF THEY….

How do we assess this competence? Assessing written reports of each project Assessing individual work of each student in class Testing of Prototypes Assessing group work in each class Methods

Have our students developed critical thinking? To measure the students’ perceptions and satisfaction with this methodology, a survey was conducted via Moodle, containing Closed questions (YES/NO) regarding the usefulness of our teaching methods for achieving critical reasoning. Only 2015-16 course is presented here 55 students: 3 women and 52 men Results

Do you think that Class Session have help you in the understanding and conducting of each DEP? 98% 2% Do you think that DEP project developing have helped you increase your ability in reasoning and arguing? 87% 13% Results

Do you think that DEP project developing have helped you increase your ability in questioning? 86% 14% Overall, do you think that DEP Teaching Methodology have helped you in developing Critical Thinking? 97% 3% Results

Conclusions Conclusions Success is Guaranteed We have presented a new strategy based on Project Based Learning methodology to enhanced and promoted critical thinking in mechanical students. Through the development of four Structural Projects, our students can develop this competence gradually. Positive results are confirmed through an anonymous survey. Success is Guaranteed Conclusions

Silvia De la Flor D. Ramos, X. Zamora, F. Ferrando, L. López de Zamora Incorporating critical thinking in Structural Mechanics using a Project Based Learning strategy Silvia De la Flor D. Ramos, X. Zamora, F. Ferrando, L. López de Zamora Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica UNIVERSITAT ROVIRA I VIRGILI TARRAGONA (ESPAÑA) Faculty of Education of the University of Extremadura Badajoz (Spain), June 21st- 23rd 2017