Propuesta Metodológica Basada en Herramientas Informáticas para el Aprendizaje de la Robótica Educativa y Pedagógica en el Sexto Semestre de la Escuela de Ingeniería Mecánica ESPOCH

Abstract

This research is focused on a methodological proposal which is based on computing tools for the educative and pedagogical robotics learning applied on sixth - level students taking Electronics in the Mechanical Engineering Faculty at Escuela Superior Politecnica de Chimborazo. A study of different pedagogical methods was carried out in order to choose one of them, and use it as basis to apply the methodology in the robotics study. One of the stages of the proposal is the study of educative robotics. For this, it was necessary to analyze and choose Mindstorms robot before starting with pedagogic robotics theme. For the trials, a three-module prototype (Input module, Control module and Output module) was designed and built. Regarding to the control unit, Arduino and Pinguino Plates were analyzed by means of morphological matrices, thus Arduino and Pinguino plates were choosen to work with Labview graphic. Three theoretical and practical evaluations were also carried out during the methodology application in order to prove the Alternative Hypothesis. In the final evaluation, the methodology applied for group A got an average of 12.4 over 15, while group B got 10.21. From the results obtained significantly in a 5% which are equivalent to +-2.051 the proposed hypothesis is accepted; therefore, “the methodology using computing tools improves the robotics learning in the School of Mechanical Engineering of ESPCOH”. It is concluded that the constructivist model is appropriate for the robotics study, and it is recommended that the Universities and Mechanical Engineering Faculty Authorities who are involved in the robotics study, implement the methodology proposed in the curriculum of the Mechanical Engineering School.