Abstract:

The compulsory subject 'Modelmaking workshop' serves as introduction to the world of three-dimensional conceptual design and formal and artistic expression, making scale models related to industrial design. Despite a satisfactory performance of students, last year some common problems were detected in practical subjects like this, such as ignoring the shortcomings of the students at the beginning of the course, the absence of an organized and efficient system for students to acquire the materials to work and lack of new teaching materials to guide students to the correct use of the different machines in the workshop.

This paper describes the improvements made in the subject 'Modelmaking workshop' of Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design and Product Development at the Universitat Jaume I, through an educational improvement project funded by the Educational Support Unit (USE). The objectives were to maintain coordination of this subject with another one of the same Degree and start the coordination with a third one being taught for the first time this year, learn about the initial shortcomings of students, to improve and enhance the learning tools, to improve visibility and dissemination of the work of students and maintain the final percentage of students presented, passed and the average mark in this subject compared to previous courses. To achieve these goals a new logistic model was created, various methodologies were applied (cooperative learning, project learning, independent learning), different assessments were conducted (diagnostic or initial assesment, formative assesment, continuous assesment and assesment between students) and new teaching materials were created (self-learning videos). This article concludes by assessing the impact and scope of these improvements, obtaining data through tests, surveys and analysis of the final performance of the students in their work.

Keywords:

Industrial design, modelmaking workshop, manual skills, tools, student–centred learning.