Effects of emergency due to the SARS-CoV-2 on the instruction of the engineering education: bimodality of the courses IE0017 Electrical Machines and EI0023 Electromechanical Design I

Abstract

Electrical Machines course requires an understanding of the construction fundamentals and physical principles of motors, generators, and transformers. So that students understand the behavior of this type of electrical machines, it is necessary for them to conduct operating practices. The Electromechanical Design course aims to introduce the student to a controlled industrial work environment through the precision workshop. On March 5^th, 2020, the University of Costa Rica ordered some measures given the emergency caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including the suspension of face-to-face activities. In the II semester of 2021, any courses enable to return to face-to-face, complying with the protocols issued by the teaching house and the Ministry of Health. Due to this, and the physical limitations of space and equipment, decides that offer the courses in a bimodal way: a face-to-face week and a virtual week. This paper seeks to systematize the experience in engineering education in a bimodal way during the II semester 2021, specifically in said courses. A diagnosis was made at the end of the course to listen to the student's voice regarding the transition from face-to-face to virtuality, which virtual tools should continue to be used in the pedagogical mediation and which modality (face-to-face, virtual or hybrid) facilitates their learning of the course. Among the findings found in the study, engineering students indicate that they prefer a modality that includes some degree of face-to-face learning.