Abstract:

The preparation for an autonomous and lifelong study supposes the initiation to the search of other approaches, and the use of alternative tools. This search goes through the establishment of objectives and methodology, a study and understanding of what has already been published. This search, moreover, if it is linked to cutting-edge and current issues, is a motivating point by offering a real vision of the development of the technique and of industrial interests.

In this way, the main objective of the experience presented in this paper is to promote a multidisciplinary approach based on research involving subjects of different educational levels and different Engineering Schools. It is intended to transfer the results of research-based learning techniques in applied master’s subjects in Degrees related to Industrial Engineering as practical examples in a Degree subject of a more basic and fundamental nature in the Computer Engineering School.

The teaching experience points to the difficulty of motivating students in subjects with a general or excessively theoretical approach. Additionally, previous works on educational innovation have shown the shortcomings of students to face open approaches to problems, which, although initially more motivating, end up revealing the tendency of teaching to solve problems with closed solutions. While the latter approach may be more reasonable for certain first-year subjects, Master's courses lend themselves to more open, research-based approaches. Therefore, with this experience, the aim is to provide students with the tools to explore the subject as a researcher would, taking charge of trying to solve real and tangible problems and acquire the knowledge and skills set for the subjects through that research. On the other hand, in the Degree subject, it is intended to offer a motivating point with current experiences and results of the abstract concepts explained, as well as a way of carrying out practices and exercises applied based on the research carried out in the other subjects.

From a practical point of view, the action is twofold. On the one hand, the appropriate materials are generated to be able to promote training through research in 2 subjects of the master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. These subjects are focused on different areas such as road vehicles and automatic manufacturing systems, but they share common elements such as the techniques for perceiving the environment of vehicles and machines, mapping tools and guidance and decision-making algorithms, aspects on which students must work. In addition, they are areas of great relevance in current research as they deal with cutting-edge and current topics. This fact facilitates motivation of the students towards a research work to arrive at the solutions of the practical problems that are proposed to them. On the other hand, the solutions are transformed into practical applications that are used in the Robotics subject taught in the Computer Engineering Degree. This subject is much more general, but it is considered that the tangible examples and the practical sessions that derive from the work of the other subjects should result in greater motivation and a deeper knowledge of the concepts addressed when appreciating the applicability to real cases. Also, based on the same themes, short activities are proposed that promote an introduction to the research methodology, although in a very directed way.

Keywords:

Research and education, open-solution problems, motivation.