Abstract:

Today’s society lives in the era of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and has defined a new concept of teaching, within which tools such as digital blackboards, mobile applications, online repositories, and virtual classrooms have their maximum application. Nowadays, it is normal to use different means such as smartphones, social networks, or the internet to communicate immediately and be informed when and where needed. These tools used as teaching support allow and assist teachers in their educational work, facilitating the transmission of knowledge to students and promoting curricular innovation. In this way, the use of these digital technologies in the classroom leads to the renewal of the teaching method, motivating students to achieve the set objectives.

In this way, the presented Educational Innovation Project aims to promote the use of ICT and the virtual platform Moodle within the Virtual Campus environment of the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM). In this project, initiatives have been proposed to innovate in: master classes, practical case studies, resolution of exercises and problems, problem-based learning, project-based learning, cooperative learning, and practical classes.

This educational innovation project arises from the need to implement new technologies, such as mobile phone applications, in the subjects of the Mechanical Engineering Degree related to the design and analysis of structures (Strength of Materials, Continuum Mechanics, Design and Analysis of Metal and Concrete Structures, Theory of Structures and Industrial Buildings). The aim is to complement and optimize teaching and educational activities in the field of structural engineering.

In summary, the purpose of this work is to complement analytical methodologies with the use of open-source computer tools and mobile applications related to the analysis of stress laws. The project is based on the study of different mobile applications, assessing their viability for subsequent implementation as a teaching resource in the previously mentioned subjects. The activities developed during this project have been well received among the students, and proof of this are the results of the satisfaction survey carried out among the attendees. As a point to improve, after analyzing these results it has been observed that the recommended educational material, as well as the bibliography and sources of information, have not been entirely sufficient for the completion of the work. Therefore, these aspects will be reviewed to improve them for future educational activities.

Keywords:

Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mobile App, Open-source Software, Teaching Innovation, Mechanical Engineering Degree.