Development of an automatic control system employing CDIO standards and competence-based learning

This paper addresses the experiences and results achieved by a controlled environment chamber development team, analyzed from the perspective of the CDIO initiative (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) and competency-based learning. The automation project was carried out within the framework of some Electrical and Electronic Engineering Faculty degree projects from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. The ones who developed the solution faced several challenges in the development of their degree projects and this allowed assess how they confronted these challenges. It shows the connection between the proposed skills in different Electronic Engineering program courses and the consolidation through solving problems. The elements of the CDIO initiative were identified in the different development stages to find engineering problem solutions: Conceiving, Designing, Implementing and Operating. The analysis of the whole process can go beyond to simple exercise routine and it evidence the way in which engineering students have an asynchronous learning as they progress in achieving to the required solution. Also, this work can be framed within current proposals in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Faculty from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana located in Medellin-Colombia, which seeks to develop an educational and innovative environment that leverages each of the students' abilities to strengthen skills that help them carry out their projects.