Design of a virtual laboratory of engineering methods as a model of continuing education at distance

Abstract

This work is part of a research project that seeks to build a virtual laboratory of the unit learning engineering methods of the Plan of Studies of the Career of Engineer Industrial, in the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Campus Mexicali.
Based on previous research, we seek to design lab in computer, having a similar in the student's learning impact, when it performs the practices in a conventional laboratory. For this research, is structured on 6 different stages: 1) documentary research of the General requirements that must meet a methods engineering laboratory. (2) The selection of the thematic contents that must cover the realization of the virtual practice. (3) The programming of the virtual practice on a simulator. (4) The methodology to build a virtual practice that achieves that student obtains the General competences of the practice. (5) Experimental work compares pilot groups, which develop their comparative and virtual and conventional practices. (6) Final adjustment of practices and the construction of a friendly interface to the user for execution of practices, with its operating instructions.
In this document we present the first three stages of development of the project, which ends next year, with the development of the missing stages.

Key Words
Virtual laboratory, engineering methods, work study.