METHODOLOGIES, TECHNOLOGIES AND TEACHING TOOLS FOR THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

This study examined achievement when video podcasts were used in teaching for specific pedagogical purposes in higher education. The main objective is the improvement of the methodologies, the activities and the tools in the teaching of the subject Environmental Engineering from the first-year Mechanical Engineering Degree. We believe that it is necessary to incorporate new resources that facilitate learning. Also, we intend to foster the relationship between the teacher and the students through the use of new technologies and the active intervention of the student in the subject. This experience consists of the elaboration of video podcasts showing the different process of wastewater treatment plants, the process of treatment and disposal methods of solid and hazardous waste and advanced processes to eliminate atmosphere pollutants that are produced in industrial processes, that correspond to the three main parts of the Environmental Engineering subject. Video podcast has become an important and useful tool for working in the classroom because is a visual and attractive resource for students. The possibility of having multimedia resources gives the students greater flexibility of schedules since they organize their study time, and that generates self-discipline. The teacher stops being the protagonist, becoming a facilitator of the educational process and gives way to the student, who must have a firm commitment to their own training process. Evidence supporting the beneficial impact of video podcasts on student performance has been presented in different formats: test scores, and self-report data.