Abstract:

In this paper we present an analysis of the students’ perception on teaching and learning process before and after the implementation of different educational innovation projects. Some changes in the educational methodology were carried out in 2 subjects of Technical Engineering in Agriculture and in 3 subjects of Technical Engineering in Mechanical. These actions have been accomplished in the frame of five Educational Innovation Projects at the College of Engineering of the University of Almería (Spain). The aim of the first project was the design and planning of the course for the subjects of Agronomy in the frame of the European Space for Higher Education. Two of the projects were focused to implement the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Finally, the objectives of the other two projects were the implementation of educational innovation activities and the creation of learning materials for subjects related with the Agro-industrial sector.

As results of these innovation projects, we have changed the traditional method of assessment, based on a written examination at the end of the semester, by a continuous assessment through the semester by means of several different methods such as technical projects, written essays, public presentations and group works. As consequence of the projects implementation, we have also changed from the traditional lecture approach to a student-centred learning environment using partial virtualization of the subjects and another Information and Communication Technologies. A PC with internet connection and a slide projector are available for all sessions in the classroom, allowing us to combine videos, slide presentations and information from web pages.

To collect information about students’ perception of their learning experience, the Quality Department of the University of Almería administered a survey to students two week before the end of each semester. The survey questions were organised into five themes: expected mark, course organization, learning methodologies, method of assessment and overall satisfaction. The final mark obtained by students for the three last courses (7.76±0.66) were not statistically different compared to the expected mean (7.32±0.55; t=–1.09, p=0.28). The results of survey revealed an increase in the students’ satisfaction for all themes analysed. We can observe an increase in the overall satisfaction (mean of the five subjects) from 3.81/5 (for the course 2007/08) to 4.11/5 (for 2009/10).

Keywords:

Students’ perception, engineering, continuous assessment, European Space for Higher Education, European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).