Increasing of Welding Learning Effectiveness by Laboratory Classes Assisted with Non-passive Audio-visual

Abstract

Lab classes are of essential importance for engineering courses, for exposing students to an actual atmosphere during application of the theoretical knowledges. This work has the objective of demonstrating how audiovisual assisted lab classes can improve the effectiveness of the classes, as much for supporting the tutor as for boosting the students’ learning. Implemented by the author in post-graduate courses of Mechanical Engineering at Federal University of Uberlandia, Brazil, the aim was to turn classes less laborious for the teachers and concomitantly more attractive and efficient to the students, while time and lab resources are more effectively used. Always trying to assure active participation of the students (not as passive spectators) during the execution of the experiments, the students are at first encouraged to get acquainted to laboratorial practices. Following, audiovisual resources are used complementary to replace only the repetitive and/or passive activities. The methodology applications were over disciplinary topics, with emphasis on the formative (certification of physics phenomena and theoretical concepts) and information (presentation of techniques and processes) aspects. It was concluded that the objectives of this approach have been achieved, but the assessment of the effect on learning will be possible over the years of method implementation.

Key-words:
Lab classes; Audiovisual assisted classes; Learning