Abstract:

Enhancing critical thinking and research skills in college students requires systematic strategies and actions necessary to perform assessments, evaluate options and make decisions under arguments built with scientific bases. Heeding the training of engineers from this perspective from the time they enter University will allow that student to develop cognitive skills by stages that will be useful during their instruction, in designing assignments and in the elaboration of innovative proposals that can give solution to engineering problems and benefit society during the exercise of their profession.

While it is true that the use of active methodologies contribute to this aspect of training, the results of its application greatly depends on the conditions in the context of teaching, especially in a University Campus located in a region of high marginalization and with a high educational backwardness, it is required to propose innovative teaching that contributes to the quality assurance.

For this reason, it is proposed the design of an academic scenario that appears initially as a space for discussion of ideas and learning strategies that promote critical thinking, but subsequently other aspects were integrated like design of prototypes with the joint participation of professors and students of electrical mechanical engineering and other members of the academic community.

The strategy focuses on the “Multidisciplinary Seminar of applications in Engineering”, which contributes to the formation of the student since skills are promoted with the development of specific activities in the curriculum to strengthen the profile. It is focused on the solution of real problems, everyday life and/or discipline or that only satisfy the curiosity of students in a given topic, but always in order to obtain a final product. This paper presents the theoretical foundation and methodology of the development of the strategy.

Keywords:

Critical thinking, teaching, educational innovation strategies.