Abstract:

The pass rates of the subjects in the second year of the Degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Industrial Technologies Engineering at Universitat Jaume I related to Mechanics and Elasticity are below the average rate of of the course. After an analysis of the reasons for this poor performance during the past 4 courses it was concluded that one of the main ones is the low level of most of the students in the core competencies in Mechanics and Elasticity that should have been acquired in high school and the first year of the Engineering Grades. In order to strengthen those competences, the subjects of Mechanics of Machines and Structures, Fluid Mechanics, Elasticity and Strength of Materials and Theory of Machines and Mechanisms, subjects of the second year and shared by these Degrees, decided to conduct an assessment test of common knowledge related to Mechanics and Elasticity in their continuous assessment tests. Such test was performed in both quarters, being common to the four subjects, and had 10% of the final grade for each of them. In these trials 14 teachers and 300 students have been involved every year. This paper presents a summary of the preparation of the tests, the most important problems encountered related to the coordination of teachers, implementation of a new system of evaluation for teachers and students, as well as the difficulty in preparing this type of assessment test including the evaluation of skills required in the four subjects involved, but not necessarily toughs on these subjects. Finally, an analysis of the results obtained in the tests in relation to those obtained in the subjects involved in them during the last two academic courses is performed.

Keywords:

Mechanics, Elasticity, Industrial Engineering, basic knowledge, continuous assessment tests.