Track: Engineering Education

Abstract

The year 2019 was a turning point for the University of Monterrey (UDEM). The most important changes were the strategic initiatives obtained by an international consulting firm, from which several projects were derived in different areas of the university. One of the most relevant academic initiatives was the introduction of Active Learning within the university's Pedagogical Model. In order to carry this out, it was decided to create agile teams which started functioning under the SCRUM framework. Following the functionality structure of this system - planning, sprints, refinement, review, retrospective, among others - and through various design thinking methods - crazy eights, insights, empathy processes -  innovative ideas were generated to provide a real solution to customer needs. Through different experiments, user testing and empathies, as well as a clear definition of the Objective Key Results - engagement, collaboration and enthusiasm - Shape Your Class was developed.  In 2020, due to the pandemic, Shape Your Class migrated from a physical prototype to a digital technology platform. In a way, this allowed for an acceleration to online teacher training and enabled a greater utilization and diversification of resources that physically would not have been accessible. Shape Your Class is a virtual space for class design based on Active Learning that provides an authentic combination of functionality and innovation. Through a set of digital cards, various design options are presented, identifying: strategic elements, essential moments (class opening, learning tactics and class closure) and complementary moments (evaluation and reflection). It provides teachers with a ludic, playful and pedagogical way for the creative process of designing their sessions. In this way, Shape your Class was able to position itself within a highly innovative course design model, supported by 24 experiments, 95 courses, 119 teachers, and 969 students, obtaining above 80% of satisfaction rates in all Objective Key Results, as well as testimonials from both teachers and students. The most outstanding products that have already been delivered include the digital platform, course design model, user and technical manual, video tutorial, training model, communication strategy, among others. It is important to mention that Shape Your Class holds a patent and is registered in the Copyright National Institute in Mexico. The next steps for Shape Your Class include the delivery to the operational area of the Academic Development Center, with the objective of increasing the use of the tool to a greater volume of professors. Currently, training workshops are being offered and at the same time a greater diffusion of the implementation of Shape Your Class in the classroom is being created, always with the objective of growing academically as one of the best universities in Monterrey.

Keywords: Active Learning, design thinking, experiments, technology, innovation. 

Acknowledgements: special recognition to Teresa Benavides, Dr. Rafael Ibarra, Dr. Emma Palmer, José Luis Preciado and Melissa Rentería who participated in the creation of the platform.