Abstract:

The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) aims to promote a competitive and more qualified education system. The field of Electrical engineering and home automation systems is an area where quality and innovation can be easily implemented as is stated in the Bologna systems. However, this is a new aspect that has not be applied to practical subjects such as electrical engineering installations and automation of home systems up to now.

The more important aspects to cope are:
• Promoting student’s qualifications, skills and competences.
• Increasing the technical knowledge of the subject. The content of the subject should be related with their future professional activities.
• Promoting student-centered learning process through a technical subject such as automation of electrical installations.
• Focusing on international activities in order to promote an open-minded view of the subject.

This paper presents new ideas and the implementation of new exercises and experiences in the field of home automation systems and energy efficiency subjects at University Carlos III of Madrid with the objective of improving the skills of the student by using new e-learning tools, developing the personal work boosting the autonomy of the student. The propose architecture and new ideas will be shown.

Once the e-learning material has been designed and developed, exercises with real components must be faced. Information provided by several international companies containing videos, projects, statistics, etc were given to the students with solutions in the field of home automation systems.

Students are motivated for suggesting ideas, designing personal projects and for acquiring an important role in his education. The projects are related to electric energy efficiency considering any aspect, from saving oil to saving heat through electricity and so on.

Keywords:

Home automation systems, e-learning, virtual laboratory, customized exercises, EHEA.