Challenge-based learning: an I-semester for experiential learning in Mechatronics Engineering

An Educational Innovation approach denominated, “I-semester,” for Mechatronics Engineering students was designed, implemented and evaluated. The teaching–learning concept applied herein is interactive, experiential, motivates students and encourages their creativity to provide solutions to real-world challenges. Within the frameworks of competency-based education (CBE) and challenge-based learning (CBL), learning experiences were designed consisting of educational modules and challenges focused on developing disciplinary and transversal competencies during an academic semester. The modules provided theoretical and practical knowledge, whereas challenge activities promoted the development of competencies and the generation of creative–solution proposals. This educational research effort included a formal methodology that started with a problem statement and a hypothesis, followed by the method and an experiment that consisted of the I-semester implementation with a sample of students enrolled in the Mechatronic Engineering program at Tecnologico de Monterrey. The methodology, the development of the experiment and the findings through the analysis of gathered data could contribute to educational research focused on CBE–CBL approaches in educational programs for undergraduate engineering students.