Development of Competitive Skills in Future Mechanical Engineers

Nowadays, the Web is a common tool for students searching information about the subjects taught in the different university courses. Although this is a good tool for the first rapid knowledge, a more deep study is usually demanded. After many years of teaching one course about ceramic and composite materials, the authors, used the Bologna reformulation of the mechanical engineering course to introduce new teaching methodologies based on continuous evaluation. One of the main innovations is one practical work that comprises the study of a recent ceramic scientific article, using all the actual available tools, elaboration of a scientific report, present the work and participate in a debate. With this innovative teaching method the enrolment of the students was enhanced with a better knowledge about the ceramics subject and the skills related with the CDIO competences.Copyright © 2010 by ASME