Abstract:

Laboratory work is an essential and reinforcing element in the traditional lecture-based process of delivering academic content on education in Material Science and Engineering. In the laboratory, students can explore their understanding of the subjects being taught by placing their learning in context.

In the new degrees of the Bologna framework, student autonomy has gained great relevance, hence, laboratory practices are essential tools to encourage students to take their own decisions and provide an appropriate environment for students to develop their skills as engineers. Students can also be motivated to learn in the laboratory context if they can feel a spirit of excitement when investigating a scientific phenomenon, or when creating something that actually works. Therefore, the design and delivery of laboratory classes, and how the students are assessed, should be carefully considered for their contribution to effective student learning.

One way of presenting laboratory work in order of decreasing teacher control and increasing student autonomy is the methodology known as experimental investigations. This teaching method encourages students to take personal initiative in the performance of the exercise (choice of materials, choice of variables etc.) and they can be structured at some degree.

The semi-structured practice that will be presented in this work it is designed for undergraduate students coursing the second year of Industrial Engineering, Organization Engineering and Environmental Engineering. This practice is designed on the clear understanding that Materials Science and Engineering involves several contexts. By performing this practice students learn to recognize the interactive relationship between polymeric materials, transformation processes and mechanical properties.

Keywords:

Experimental investigation, Laboratory practice, Material Science and Engineering, Polymers, transformation processes-mechanical properties.