In recent years, the University of Vigo has developed several educational projects aimed at engaging students and teachers in the intensive use of new learning technologies.

This work is based on the application of new technologies in higher education teaching, especially in the development of new learning objects, knowledge pills. According to the RLO-CETL definition of a learning pill is a "reusable learning object", which can be used, reused or referenced in a learning process and it is supported by technology.

In this paper we describe how to use these objects to the teaching of "Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer." This subject is taught in the second year of Mechanical Engineering at University of Vigo. This degree has only been implemented in the first course. The teaching guidelines are being designed following the European Higher Education Area principles. The main target followed in this work is to help the student in self study.

To develop this educational tool a collection of knowledge pills will be produced in order to explain the resolution of exercises of Rankine cycle power plants. The application of this learning tool is mainly focused on self study and therefore the student is proposed to carry out a self-test exercise in order to check knowledge acquired. The proposed evaluation tool is a self-assessment test with questions testing comprehension of the methodology and processes involved in the exercises solved in the knowledge pills collection.