THE MOTOSTUDENT PROJECT AS AN EXAMPLE OF TRAINING IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BASED ON COMPETENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARITY AND COLLABORATIVE STUDENT WORK

Juan Carlos Fortes-Garrdio¹*, Miguel Ángel García Romera², Juan Manuel Enrique Gómez³, José Miguel Dávila Martín⁴, Montserrat Hidalgo Hidalgo⁵,  Belén Fortes Hidalgo^6
1 Dr. University of Huelva, SPAIN, jcfortes@uhu.es
² Mr. University of Huelva, SPAIN, miguelangel.romera@alu.uhu.es
³ Dr. University of Huelva, SPAIN juanm.enrique@diesia.uhu.es
⁴ Dr. University of Huelva, SPAIN jmdavila@dimme.uhu.es
⁵ Dr. University of Huelva, SPAIN hidalgo@denf.uhu.es
⁶ Ms. University of Huelva, SPAIN, belenfortes_96@hotmail.com

*Corresponding Author

Abstract
This paper presents an educational experience developed in the fourth year of Mechanical Engineering degree at Huelva University (Spain). The object is to participate in a motorcycle championship in order to develop the direct application of knowledge and skills required in the classroom. A new educational project is presented, based on an inter-university championship, developed over three semesters. It consists of designing and constructing a motorcycle racing prototype of category M-3, with a regulation similar to that of the World Championship. Students also have to present and defend the business project that involves the construction and sale of 500 units, with technical and economic constraints imposed by the organization.

Current education involves a deep exercise of thought about teaching-learning method, because the student must be the basis and a greater effort is needed. We apply novel educational methodologies in order to achieve lasting and meaningful learning, with a more innovative teaching and interactive methods that produce in the student the search for information. Taking this premise as our starting point, the MotoStudent project is a perfect example for engineering students to become interested in mechanics and the championships (Carpio, 2005). They are an ideal framework for developing and implementing competencies and skills that are intended to be acquired in the classroom, and tend to complete their training in a self-taught way. It provides the understanding of the matter and causes an acquisition of knowledge and know-how, effective and permanent over time.

The championships also offer students the opportunity to meet people with other perspectives in their field and contrast the work each one has done. This type of activities makes students understand the difference between doing calculations in the classroom and doing them in a real case. Since it is not the same to calculate a beam of a practical case of a book, than to calculate the resistance of a chassis, which they have designed and will manufacture. For example, to calculate the chassis they have to consider the shape of the motor, the grips and the swinging design, amongst others limitations.

Keywords: Skills, mechanics, championship, group work.