IMPLEMENTATION OF ARDUINO AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN ELECTRONICS: A CASE STUDY USING GOOGLE CLASSROOM.

Abstract

The revolution in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has transformed multiple sectors, including education. This change prompts educators and researchers to explore new pedagogical methodologies that can enhance both teaching and learning (Gallo Macias, 2021). However, the effective implementation of these technologies in the classroom remains a challenge (Almiron, 2014).
In this context, the present study focused on Technical Secondary Education in Electronics, a field that requires both technical skills and soft skills for success in the professional world. The implementation of Arduino, an open hardware and software platform, and Project-Based Learning (PBL), a student-centered pedagogical approach, was explored to improve learning and student motivation. Additionally, Google Classroom was used as a learning management tool to facilitate teaching and assessment.
The need for new pedagogical strategies in teaching electronics is highlighted in previous research (Zárate Chafla, 2022). Furthermore, programming is identified as a key competency for students' academic and professional development (Tejera-Martínez, 2020). This study seeks to fill a gap in the existing literature by evaluating the impact of these pedagogical strategies on students' academic performance and the development of essential competencies such as collaborative work, effective communication, motivation, and responsibility. The study was conducted with a sample of 40 technical secondary education students in electronics, equally divided between 20 tenth-grade and 20 eleventh-grade students, and employed a mixed-method approach to provide a more comprehensive understanding of educational phenomena.