Abstract:

Some traditional higher engineering education core courses have temporally been forced to fully switch to distance learning due to COVID19 health restrictions. Such is the case of the Electrical Machines course in the field of Electrical Engineering, in which the learning process necessarily comprises high load of essential practical skills acquired at laboratories. This transformation shall not be regarded as a hurdle but as an opportunity to enhance students’ learning experience and effectiveness.

Due to the high number of students enrolled in the Electrical Machines course, some consideration had already been made regarding the possibility of intermixing distance learning with face-to-face lectures for practical work. Nevertheless, the pandemic has accelerated this transformation. In this regard, reimagining and redesigning traditional methodologies, without calling academic standards into question, has been a challenge for teachers and instructors, resulting in a compound adapted approach. The general objective of this approach is to help students build up their knowledge and improve fundamental concepts through practical work, keeping them motivated and engaged. Also, specific objectives are flexibility, personalization and convenience of the educational experience, provided by digital tools.

The novel methodology, which has been successfully put into practice, makes use of trending computer-based educational tools and, more specifically, combines guided reference documents, custom-made video material and interactive simulation software, along with a close learning support structure for students through an online public forum. The methodology is completed with scheduled synchronous Q&A and discussion sessions, mostly collectively but also individually if students are in trouble.

Overall students’ performance and the quantitative results achieved so far in terms of marks and student engagement rates show its suitability. From the student's qualitative perspective, results have also been satisfying, being flexibility and availability particularly appreciated. These results show that the approach can be adapted to stay, as a third way in which face-to-face sessions cohabit with distance learning for practical work in a permanent situation.

Keywords:

Distance learning, Practical, Laboratory, Engineering, Electrical Machines, Electrical Engineering, University, Undergraduate.