Abstract:

A pilot experience in Industrial Engineer Studies, Mechanical specialty, has started in order to adapt the studies to the EEES in the University of Jaén. In this work a first analysis of the teaching-learning process by competences in a main subject of these studies called “Thermal Engineering”, is presented and compared to the traditional methodology accomplished by the teaching staff over the last years. They have been used active learning techniques by competences like problem-based learning and cooperative learning. The procedure has allowed evaluating, in addition to the proposed competences, other important aspects for the student formation, like the organization of work, information quest, use of computers and written and oral expression. Results of the study show the great potential of a teaching-learning process by competences although certain student´s reluctance and institutional and normative type difficulties were found.

Keywords:

Thermal engineering, competences, laboratory practices.