Abstract:

Experiential learning helps to develop practical competencies through real-life experiences. One of the most efficient experiential learning techniques is challenge-based learning, where students have to solve a real-life problem. In the process, they develop selected procedural, practical, and attitudinal competencies. The course is designed in three modules lectured by different instructors. The first module covers technological surveillance, where students explore diverse trends and emergent technologies, describing the main features and applications of each one of them. The second module is about innovation requirements and opportunities, where participants explore the voice of customers and create a technological value proposition. Finally, the third module presents selected innovation techniques, such as tactical cards, SCAMPER, and blue ocean among others.

The challenge is about the design of innovative services to assist industrial companies to develop digital competencies in their collaborators. There are seventy students in the course. They are divided into groups of four to five participants. Groups compete against each other to present the best value-oriented innovation. A panel of experts evaluate their proposals and provide feedback according to their value proposition.

This work presents the experience, the lessons learned, and the results obtained from this educational experience.

Keywords:

Challange-based learning, innovation, processes design.