DEVELOPMENT OF THEMATIC BLOCKS IN PARALLEL FOR THE GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION SYLLABUS. A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH APPLIED TO AN ENGINEERING DEGREE

In 2010 a new model for military education was implemented which led to the creation of the Defence University Centre at the Military Naval Academy (Centro Universitario de la Defensa en la Escuela Naval Militar or CUD-ENM in Spanish) attached to the University of Vigo and located at the Military Naval Academy in Marín. The CUD is a centre where students take a degree in Mechanical Engineering while they also receive military training and instruction. This work aims to present the results of the first years of providing Graphic Representation classes as the new model was implemented. Firstly, the specific initial context and conditions are analyzed and the subject itself described. The following step explains the teaching methodology used. Given the special contextual circumstances surrounding the CUD, the scheduling of teaching sessions, classrooms and student activities is especially complex and critical. In order to impart the subject, an innovative organization of the contents had to be set up using methods that were suitable to meet the European Bologna Process criteria. First, the possibility of splitting the subject into independent blocks was studied and this led to a division of contents that was coherent for the context. That was followed by Development of Thematic Blocks in Parallel (DTBP), which made it possible for highly satisfactory results to be obtained. The organizational difficulties were effectively overcome by implementing this methodology for the subject of Graphic Representation. It was possible to demonstrate the results by using the University of Vigo teaching assessment survey. The main conclusion shows that the DTPB methodology allowed the subject to be developed in such a way that teaching was successfully adapted to the Centre’s special circumstances.