Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced universities to adapt teaching methodologies to health and safety protocols. The use of online technology tools and face-to-face experiences (blended learning) is shown to be an effective approach in the new educational context. Blended learning makes it possible to reduce the ratio of students in the room, without eliminating face-to-face attendance. This approach allows to take the advantages of each modality. Thus, a simulation environment lab for engineering students is proposed using this educational approach. The objective of this practical experience is to emulate a level control system equipment of the laboratories of the Polytechnic School of Engineering of Ferrol of the University of A Coruña. For this purpose, a component virtualization software (i.e. Factory I/O) and a flow based programming tool (i.e. Node-RED) have been connected and integrated to build a virtual lab. The real-time and realistic simulation environment developed allows students to work autonomously and apply control engineering concepts

Keywords:

Blended Learning, virtualization, control engineering education, face-to-face.