Robotics learning based on collaborative projects

[EN]Nowadays companies demand graduates able to work in multidisciplinary and collaborative projects. Hence, new educational methods are needed in order to support a more advanced society, and progress towards a higher quality of life and sustainability. The University of the Basque Country belongs to the European Higher Education Area, which was created as a result of the Bologna process to ensure the connection and quality of European national educational systems. In this framework, this paper proposes an innovative teaching methodology developed for the "Robotics" subject course that belongs to the syllabus of the B.Sc. degree in Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering. We present an innovative methodology for Robotics learning based on collaborative projects, aimed at responding to the demands of a multidisciplinary and multilingual society.

Use of solvents and environmental friendly materials for applications in Green Chemistry

The present Thesis studies three alternative solvent groups as sustainable replacement of traditional organic solvents. Some aspects of fluorinated solvents, supercritical fluids and ionic liquids, have been analysed with a critical approach and their effective “greenness” has been evaluated from the points of view of the synthesis, the properties and the applications. In particular, the attention has been put on the environmental and human health issues, evaluating the eco-toxicity, the toxicity and the persistence, to underline that applicability and sustainability are subjects with equal importance. The “green” features of fluorous solvents and supercritical fluids are almost well-established; in particular supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) is probably the “greenest” solvent among the alternative solvent systems developed in the last years, enabling to combine numerous advantages both from the point of view of industrial/technological applications and eco-compatibility. In the Thesis the analysis of these two classes of alternative solvents has been mainly focused on their applicability, rather than the evaluation of their environmental impact. Specifically they have been evaluated as alternative media for non-aqueous biocatalysis. For this purpose, the hydrophobic ion pairing (HIP), which allows solubilising enzymes in apolar solvents by an ion pairing between the protein and a surfactant, has been investigated as effective enzymatic derivatisation technique to improve the catalytic activity under homogeneous conditions in non conventional media. The results showed that the complex enzyme-surfactant was much more active both in fluorous solvents and in supercritical carbon dioxide than the native form of the enzyme. Ionic liquids, especially imidazolium salts, have been proposed some years ago as “fully green” alternative solvents; however this epithet does not take into account several “brown” aspects such as their synthesis from petro-chemical starting materials, their considerable eco-toxicity, toxicity and resistance to biodegradation, and the difficulty of clearly outline applications in which ionic liquids are really more advantageous than traditional solvents. For all of these reasons in this Thesis a critical analysis of ionic liquids has been focused on three main topics: i) alternative synthesis by introducing structural moieties which could reduce the toxicity of the most known liquid salts, and by using starting materials from renewable resources; ii) on the evaluation of their environmental impact through eco-toxicological tests (Daphnia magna and Vibrio fischeri acute toxicity tests, and algal growth inhibition), toxicity tests (MTT test, AChE inhibition and LDH release tests) and fate and rate of aerobic biodegradation in soil and water; iii) and on the demonstration of their effectiveness as reaction media in organo-catalysis and as extractive solvents in the recovery of vegetable oil from terrestrial and aquatic biomass. The results about eco-toxicity tests with Daphnia magna, Vibrio fischeri and algae, and toxicity assay using cultured cell lines, clearly indicate that the difference in toxicity between alkyl and oxygenated cations relies in differences of polarity, according to the general trend of decreasing toxicity by decreasing the lipophilicity. Independently by the biological approach in fact, all the results are in agreement, showing a lower toxicity for compounds with oxygenated lateral chains than for those having purely alkyl lateral chains. These findings indicate that an appropriate choice of cation and anion structures is important not only to design the IL with improved and suitable chemico-physical properties but also to obtain safer and eco-friendly ILs. Moreover there is a clear indication that the composition of the abiotic environment has to be taken into account when the toxicity of ILs in various biological test systems is analysed, because, for example, the data reported in the Thesis indicate a significant influence of salinity variations on algal toxicity. Aerobic biodegradation of four imidazolium ionic liquids, two alkylated and two oxygenated, in soil was evaluated for the first time. Alkyl ionic liquids were shown to be biodegradable over the 6 months test period, and in contrast no significant mineralisation was observed with oxygenated derivatives. A different result was observed in the aerobic biodegradation of alkylated and oxygenated pyridinium ionic liquids in water because all the ionic liquids were almost completely degraded after 10 days, independently by the number of oxygen in the lateral chain of the cation. The synthesis of new ionic liquids by using renewable feedstock as starting materials, has been developed through the synthesis of furan-based ion pairs from furfural. The new ammonium salts were synthesised in very good yields, good purity of the products and wide versatility, combining low melting points with high decomposition temperatures and reduced viscosities. Regarding the possible applications as surfactants and biocides, furan-based salts could be a valuable alternative to benzyltributylammonium salts and benzalkonium chloride that are produced from non-renewable resources. A new procedure for the allylation of ketones and aldehydes with tetraallyltin in ionic liquids was developed. The reaction afforded high yields both in sulfonate-containing ILs and in ILs without sulfonate upon addition of a small amount of sulfonic acid. The checked reaction resulted in peculiar chemoselectivity favouring aliphatic substrates towards aromatic ketones and good stereoselectivity in the allylation of levoglucosenone. Finally ILs-based systems could be easily and successfully recycled, making the described procedure environmentally benign. The potential role of switchable polarity solvents as a green technology for the extraction of vegetable oil from terrestrial and aquatic biomass has been investigated. The extraction efficiency of terrestrial biomass rich in triacylglycerols, as soy bean flakes and sunflower seeds, was comparable to those of traditional organic solvents, being the yield of vegetable oils recovery very similar. Switchable polarity solvents as been also exploited for the first time in the extraction of hydrocarbons from the microalga Botryococcus braunii, demonstrating the efficiency of the process for the extraction of both dried microalgal biomass and directly of the aqueous growth medium. The switchable polarity solvents exhibited better extraction efficiency than conventional solvents, both with dried and liquid samples. This is an important issue considering that the harvest and the dewatering of algal biomass have a large impact on overall costs and energy balance.

Design, implementation and evaluation of a virtual laboratory for Computer Engineering Education

Broad consensus has been reached within the Education and Cognitive Psychology research communities on the need to center the learning process on experimentation and concrete application of knowledge, rather than on a bare transfer of notions. Several advantages arise from this educational approach, ranging from the reinforce of students learning, to the increased opportunity for a student to gain greater insight into the studied topics, up to the possibility for learners to acquire practical skills and long-lasting proficiency. This is especially true in Engineering education, where integrating conceptual knowledge and practical skills assumes a strategic importance. In this scenario, learners are called to play a primary role. They are actively involved in the construction of their own knowledge, instead of passively receiving it. As a result, traditional, teacher-centered learning environments should be replaced by novel learner-centered solutions. Information and Communication Technologies enable the development of innovative solutions that provide suitable answers to the need for the availability of experimentation supports in educational context. Virtual Laboratories, Adaptive Web-Based Educational Systems and Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning environments can significantly foster different learner-centered instructional strategies, offering the opportunity to enhance personalization, individualization and cooperation. More specifically, they allow students to explore different kinds of materials, to access and compare several information sources, to face real or realistic problems and to work on authentic and multi-facet case studies. In addition, they encourage cooperation among peers and provide support through coached and scaffolded activities aimed at fostering reflection and meta-cognitive reasoning. This dissertation will guide readers within this research field, presenting both the theoretical and applicative results of a research aimed at designing an open, flexible, learner-centered virtual lab for supporting students in learning Information Security.

Lipid quality and oxidative stability in food products from animal origin, as affected by breeding factor

Nowadays it is requested more investigations on alternative rearing systems that are able to improve poultry welfare and to warrant high-quality and safe meat products. This thesis work was focused on the evaluation of the oxidative stability of poultry meats, obtained with different rearing systems, diets (supplemented with bioactive compounds), and packaging conditions. The thesis work was divided into the following parts: - Evaluation of the effects of different rearing systems on the quality, fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of poultry thigh and breast meat belonging to different product categories (“rotisserie” and “cut-up” carcasses); - Evaluation of the effects of different rearing systems and packaging conditions on the shelf-life of poultry thigh meat stored at 4°C for 14 days, and the effects of feed supplementation with thymol (control diet and diet with 2 different concentration of thymol) and packaging conditions on lipid oxidation of poultry thigh meat shelf-life (stored at 4°C for 14 days). The oxidative stability of poultry meat was studied by means of the spectrophotometric determinations of peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. - Evaluation of anti-inflammatory effects of different flavonoids (thymol, luteolin, tangeretin, sulforaphane, polymethoxyflavones, curcumin derivates) to detect their biological activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells in vitro, in order to study more in depth their action mechanisms. It was evaluated the cell vitality (MTT assay), nitrite concentration and protein profile. The study was focused on the identification of potential dietary bioactive compounds in order to investigate their biological activity and possible synergic effects, and to develop new suitable strategies for long-term promotion of human health, in particular against cancer.

Farming and processing stategies for improving poultry meat quality

The purpose of the PhD research was the identification of new strategies of farming and processing, with the aim to improve the nutritional and technological characteristics of poultry meat. Part of the PhD research was focused on evaluation of alternative farming systems, with the aim to increase animal welfare and to improve the meat quality and sensorial characteristics in broiler chickens. It was also assessed the use of innovative ingredients for marination of poultry meat (sodium bicarbonate and natural antioxidants) The research was developed by studying the following aspects: - Meat quality characteristics, oxidative stability and sensorial traits of chicken meat obtained from two different farming systems: free range vs conventional; - Meat quality traits of frozen chicken breast pre-salted using increasing concentrations of sodium chloride; - Use of sodium bicarbonate in comparison with sodium trypolyphosphate for marination of broiler breast meat and phase; - Marination with thyme and orange essential oils mixture to improve chicken meat quality traits, susceptibility to lipid oxidation and sensory traits. The following meat quality traits analyseswere performed: Colour, pH, water holding capacity by conventional (gravimetric methods, pressure application, centrifugation and cooking) and innovative methods (low-field NMR and DSC analysis) ability to absorb marinade soloutions, texture (shear force using different probes and texture profile analysis), proximate analysis (moisture, proteins, lipids, ash content, collagen, fatty acid), susceptibility to lipid oxidation (determinations of reactive substances with thiobarbituric acid and peroxide value), sensorial analysis (triangle test and consumer test).

Rahmenwerk für zielgruppenorientiertes Blended E-Learning im MINT-Bereich im Kontext des Lebenslangen Lernens

Das heutige Leben der Menschen ist vom Internet durchdrungen, kaum etwas ist nicht „vernetzt“ oder „elektronisch verfügbar“. Die Welt befindet sich im Wandel, die „Informationsgesellschaft“ konsumiert in Echtzeit Informationen auf mobilen Endgeräten, unabhängig von Zeit und Ort. Dies gilt teilweise auch für den Aus- und Weiterbildungssektor: Unter „E-Learning“ versteht man die elektronische Unterstützung des Lernens. Gelernt wird „online“; Inhalte sind digital verfügbar. Zudem hat sich die Lebenssituation der sogenannten „Digital Natives“, der jungen Individuen in der Informationsgesellschaft, verändert. Sie fordern zeitlich und räumlich flexible Ausbildungssysteme, erwarten von Bildungsinstitutionen umfassende digitale Verfügbarkeit von Informationen und möchten ihr Leben nicht mehr Lehr- und Zeitplänen unterordnen – das Lernen soll zum eigenen Leben passen, lebensbegleitend stattfinden. Neue „Lernszenarien“, z.B. für alleinerziehende Teilzeitstudierende oder Berufstätige, sollen problemlos möglich werden. Dies soll ein von der europäischen Union erarbeitetes Paradigma leisten, das unter dem Terminus „Lebenslanges Lernen“ zusammengefasst ist. Sowohl E-Learning, als auch Lebenslanges Lernen gewinnen an Bedeutung, denn die (deutsche) Wirtschaft thematisiert den „Fachkräftemangel“. Die Nachfrage nach speziell ausgebildeten Ingenieuren im MINT-Bereich soll schnellstmöglich befriedigt, die „Mitarbeiterlücke“ geschlossen werden, um so weiterhin das Wachstum und den Wohlstand zu sichern. Spezielle E-Learning-Lösungen für den MINT-Bereich haben das Potential, eine schnelle sowie flexible Aus- und Weiterbildung für Ingenieure zu bieten, in der Fachwissen bezogen auf konkrete Anforderungen der Industrie vermittelt wird. Momentan gibt es solche Systeme allerdings noch nicht. Wie sehen die Anforderungen im MINT-Bereich an eine solche E-Learning-Anwendung aus? Sie muss neben neuen Technologien vor allem den funktionalen Anforderungen des MINTBereichs, den verschiedenen Zielgruppen (wie z.B. Bildungsinstitutionen, Lerner oder „Digital Natives“, Industrie) und dem Paradigma des Lebenslangen Lernens gerecht werden, d.h. technische und konzeptuelle Anforderungen zusammenführen. Vor diesem Hintergrund legt die vorliegende Arbeit ein Rahmenwerk für die Erstellung einer solchen Lösung vor. Die praktischen Ergebnisse beruhen auf dem Blended E-Learning-System des Projekts „Technische Informatik Online“ (VHN-TIO).

Simple training tool is insufficient for appropriate diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition: A pre-post intervention study in a tertiary center.

OBJECTIVES To improve malnutrition awareness and management in our department of general internal medicine; to assess patients' nutritional risk; and to evaluate whether an online educational program leads to an increase in basic knowledge and more frequent nutritional therapies. METHODS A prospective pre-post intervention study at a university department of general internal medicine was conducted. Nutritional screening using Nutritional Risk Score 2002 (NRS 2002) was performed, and prescriptions of nutritional therapies were assessed. The intervention included an online learning program and a pocket card for all residents, who had to fill in a multiple-choice questions (MCQ) test about basic nutritional knowledge before and after the intervention. RESULTS A total of 342 patients were included in the preintervention phase, and 300 were in the postintervention phase. In the preintervention phase, 54.1% were at nutritional risk (NRS 2002 ≥3) compared with 61.7% in the postintervention phase. There was no increase in the prescription of nutritional therapies (18.7% versus 17.0%). Forty-nine and 41 residents (response rate 58% and 48%) filled in the MCQ test before and after the intervention, respectively. The mean percentage of correct answers was 55.6% and 59.43%, respectively (which was not significant). Fifty of 84 residents completed the online program. The residents who participated in the whole program scored higher on the second MCQ test (63% versus 55% correct answers, P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS Despite a high ratio of malnourished patients, the nutritional intervention, as assessed by nutritional prescriptions, is insufficient. However, the simple educational program via Internet and usage of NRS 2002 pocket cards did not improve either malnutrition awareness or nutritional treatment. More sophisticated educational systems to fight malnutrition are necessary.

A constellation of factors associated with premature births among African American women

A cohort, cross-sectional, historical study design was used to study factors related to spontaneous premature birth outcomes among African American women. The cohort consisted of 4,294 mothers drawn from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. The objectives of the study were: (1) to examine the distribution of gestational ages of African American infants for selected variables reported for their families and (2) to describe risk factors associated with birth at 20–31 weeks of gestational age and at 32–36 weeks of gestational age. Risk factors examined include maternal age, maternal marital status, maternal living arrangements, maternal education, maternal work status, household income, gestational bleeding, month prenatal began, adequacy of prenatal care, parity, previous viable preterm birth, and behavioral factors of attitude toward pregnancy, smoking, drug, and alcohol use during pregnancy. Frequency distributions, cross tabulations, stratified analysis, and logistic regression analysis were used. ^ Risk factors associated with a 50 percent or more increase in preterm birth were cocaine use, low maternal education, teenaged mother, prenatal care deficits or overuse, and bleeding during the second half of pregnancy. The other risk factors of not living with the baby's father, smoking cigarettes and having a mistimed pregnancy carried statistically significance but lower strength of association. ^ Health care services, educational systems, and community organizations can develop and evaluate comprehensive health education and information campaigns that address preventable risk factors during pregnancy. Although preterm birth cannot always be prevented, preconception care can help identify and modify maternal risk and promote optimum health before conception. Quality care should include continued risk assessment, health promotion, and interventions. ^

Influencia de cuatro alternativas de crianza en roble sobre el color, la composición polifenológica y las características organolépticas de vinos Malbec y Cabernet Sauvignon

Los costos de las barricas, por el tipo de cambio en la Argentina, son inaccesibles para muchas bodegas. Debido a esto, muchas de ellas utilizan sistemas alternativos de crianza, no conociendo claramente las consecuencias y los fenómenos que ocurren con el uso de estos sistemas. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar la composición polifenólica, el color y los caracteres sensoriales de vinos tratados con distintos sistemas de crianza en madera. Para ello se utilizaron métodos espectofotométricos rápidos y fácilmente realizables en bodega. Los tra tamientos a los cuales se sometió el vino fueron: barrica de roble americano de primer uso, barrica de más de cinco años de uso reacondicionada, vasija de acero inoxidable con “dominó" de roble en dosis comúnmente usadas en el medio, vasija de acero inoxidable con “dominó" de roble en dosis equivalentes a la superficie de contacto de la barrica y vino sin madera tomado como testigo. El ensayo se realizó con vinos cosecha 2007 de las variedades Malbec y Cabernet Sauvignon y el tiempo de crianza fue de 10 meses. Los resultados mostraron que en ninguna de las variedades los tratamientos con barricas obtuvieron mayor nivel de polimerización que el resto de los tratamientos ni tampoco los sistemas con agregado de fragmentos de roble superaron en polimerización al vino sin madera. Por otro lado, sólo en la variedad Cabernet Sauvignon la barrica nueva superó en intensidad de color al vino sin madera. En cambio, los tratamientos con roble favorecieron la copigmentación y los copigmentos inhibieron la polimerización, haciendo más lenta la formación de uniones tanino- antocianos pero también protegiendo el color y evitando oxidaciones, esta situación podría explicar los resultados contradictorios entre distintos autores. En el aspecto sensorial los vinos en barricas no obtuvieron mayor intensidad de color ni menor astringencia que los vinos con agregado de roble y tampoco estos últimos lograron diferencias con el vino testigo. Por otro lado en ambas variedades, la barrica nueva y el tratamiento con alta dosis de dominó de roble tuvieron la mayor intensidad aromática con descriptores como vainilla y chocolate aunque la alternativa de crianza con “dominó" estuvo muy ligada al descriptor “tabla". La barrica reacondicionada mostró el mayor nivel del descriptor betún y en el tratamiento testigo se detectaron aromas de reducción. El tratamiento con dominó de roble en dosis comerciales se encontró más ligado a los aromas frutados.

Comunicación alternativa en odontología

Los odontólogos que nos dedicamos a la atención de pacientes especiales sabemos que la técnica odontológica no es lo único que debemos conocer, ya que el manejo de distintas situaciones relacionadas con la discapacidad hace que nuestra tarea sea más compleja para Ilegar al logro de la salud bucal. Nos vamos a referir a una de esas situaciones en particular: la barrera que encontramos para el desarrollo de la comunicación a partir de la privación sensorial (visual o auditiva) o de dificultades motrices o intelectuales que presenta el paciente. La comunicación no tiene por qué ser solamente a través de la palabra oral o escrita, y debemos conocer la existencia de los sistemas alternativos de comunicación (SAAC). El término comunicación aumentativa describe las formas que usan las personas para comunicarse cuando no pueden hablar suficientemente claro, mientras que comunicación alternativa se refiere a métodos de comunicación usados para reemplazar completamente el habla.

Gobierno de la relación educación y trabajo : Arenas de recontextualización

En la actualidad es posible contemplar una modificación en la mentalidad de gobierno sobre el sistema educativo y cómo éste debe aportar al mercado laboral sujetos 'competentes', formados según sus requerimientos que contribuyan al desarrollo económico de las naciones. El artículo pretende analizar el proceso de gobierno de la relación entre educación y trabajo desde el punto de vista de los tipos de conocimientos y prácticas pedagógicas que se constituyen en legítimas. En ese sentido se hace necesario el estudio y conceptualización de las nuevas formas de recontextualización del conocimiento oficial a ser transmitido en los sistemas educativos en relación con el 'mundo del trabajo'. También se trabaja sobre cómo es el proceso de pedagogización en formatos organizacionales y curriculares, los criterios utilizados para su distribución en los diversos fragmentos de los sistemas educativos, así como en el tipo de identidades pedagógicas que construye, en el contexto de identidades laborales y socio-políticas de los sujetos individuales y colectivos.

Gobierno de la relación educación y trabajo : Arenas de recontextualización

En la actualidad es posible contemplar una modificación en la mentalidad de gobierno sobre el sistema educativo y cómo éste debe aportar al mercado laboral sujetos 'competentes', formados según sus requerimientos que contribuyan al desarrollo económico de las naciones. El artículo pretende analizar el proceso de gobierno de la relación entre educación y trabajo desde el punto de vista de los tipos de conocimientos y prácticas pedagógicas que se constituyen en legítimas. En ese sentido se hace necesario el estudio y conceptualización de las nuevas formas de recontextualización del conocimiento oficial a ser transmitido en los sistemas educativos en relación con el 'mundo del trabajo'. También se trabaja sobre cómo es el proceso de pedagogización en formatos organizacionales y curriculares, los criterios utilizados para su distribución en los diversos fragmentos de los sistemas educativos, así como en el tipo de identidades pedagógicas que construye, en el contexto de identidades laborales y socio-políticas de los sujetos individuales y colectivos.

Gobierno de la relación educación y trabajo : Arenas de recontextualización

En la actualidad es posible contemplar una modificación en la mentalidad de gobierno sobre el sistema educativo y cómo éste debe aportar al mercado laboral sujetos 'competentes', formados según sus requerimientos que contribuyan al desarrollo económico de las naciones. El artículo pretende analizar el proceso de gobierno de la relación entre educación y trabajo desde el punto de vista de los tipos de conocimientos y prácticas pedagógicas que se constituyen en legítimas. En ese sentido se hace necesario el estudio y conceptualización de las nuevas formas de recontextualización del conocimiento oficial a ser transmitido en los sistemas educativos en relación con el 'mundo del trabajo'. También se trabaja sobre cómo es el proceso de pedagogización en formatos organizacionales y curriculares, los criterios utilizados para su distribución en los diversos fragmentos de los sistemas educativos, así como en el tipo de identidades pedagógicas que construye, en el contexto de identidades laborales y socio-políticas de los sujetos individuales y colectivos.

Effect of cage type on the behaviour pattern of rabbit does at different physiological stages

Interest in commercially farmed rabbit welfare has increased in recent years. As a result, new alternative housing systems have been developed, although they require evaluation in order to demonstrate their potential for improving welfare. The aim of this trial was to study the behavioural traits of rabbit does housed in 2 different types of cage (TC): conventional vs. alternative with an elevated platform, at different physiological stages (PS); lactation and gestation. Behavioural observations were carried out on 12 rabbit commercial does using continuous 24 h video recording. Independently of PS and TC, rabbit does spent most of their time on foot mats (on av. 57.7%). However, due to the use of platforms (on av. 23.0% of time), lactating does spent 36.6% less time on foot mats (P<0.001) and gestating does spent 27.0% less time on wire mesh (P<0.001) in alternative cages than in conventional cages. Alternative cages allowed for standing posture, but this behaviour was only observed in gestating does (on av. 4.6 times a day). Frequency of drinking was higher in conventional than in alternative cages (24.6 vs. 19.1 times a day; P<0.05). Gestating does housed in conventional cages reached the highest duration and frequency of interacting with neighbours (276 s/d and 4.6 times/d; P<0.05). The frequency of interacting with kits was lower in alternative than in conventional cages (2.4 vs. 8.6 times a day; P<0.01). Doe behaviour was influenced by the time of day, with less activity during the midday hours. During dark hours, rabbit does more frequently performed restless behaviour such as hyperactivity or nursing, matching the time at which rabbit does spent more time on the platform. The platform was frequently used by rabbit does, regardless of their physiological stage, and during late lactation phase, when mothers were not receptive to nursing, does housed in alternative cages used the platform as a mean to flee from kits trying to suckle. Use of the platform might lead to hygienic problems due to retained faeces on the platform and faeces and urine falling onto animals located in the lower part of the cage. The absence of stereotypies in rabbit does of this trial, suggested that animal welfare was not compromised by the type of housing (conventional or alternative cages).

Análisis del rendimiento académico del alumnado de último curso de ingeniería mediante nuevas tecnologías en el proceso de enseñanza‐aprendizaje

En el marco del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior los estudios deben de estar orientados a facilitar la movilidad de los futuros egresados para que su inclusión en mundo laboral sea global y en este contexto, los sistemas educativos deben introducir cambios en el proceso de enseñanza – aprendizaje y en la gestión. Como uno de los elementos básicos de la creación del EEES es el aprendizaje a lo largo de la vida, se deben adoptar metodologías que doten al estudiante de capacidades para poder enfrentarse a todos los retos de la vida laboral. A través de la presente investigación se trata de aportar una visión real de la aplicación efectiva de un modelo de Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas y el Método del Caso acompañados de una fuerte Acción Tutorial y el uso de la Tecnología de la Información y Comunicación en la Universidad (TIC). Se considera asimismo de gran interés para la mejora del aprendizaje conocer cuál es la opinión real de los estudiantes universitarios, ya que son los principales implicados en relación a un modelo formativo apoyado en el Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas, el Método del Caso, la Acción Tutorial y utilización de las TIC. A través de este estudio se pretende comprobar y valorar cual es la visión real que los alumnos tienen de estas aplicaciones y como las utilizan. Para ello durante los últimos cursos se ha trabajado con alumnos de los últimos cursos de la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Civil de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid aplicando técnicas de Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas y el Método del Caso conjuntamente con la utilización de un Modelo de Acción Tutorial y el uso de la TIC. La tarea se ha centrado en desarrollar, a lo largo de los cursos 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 y 2013-14, un modelo de Acción Tutorial con los alumnos matriculados en las asignaturas de Caminos I, Caminos II, Aforos y Ordenación del Tráfico, asignaturas de la titulación de Ingeniería Técnica de Obras Públicas, y por otro lado, en la asignatura de Caminos, perteneciente a la titulación de Ingeniería Civil. Mediante cuestionarios al inicio y final del curso, se ha conocido cuál es la opinión que poseen los alumnos sobre esta acción. A continuación, durante los cursos 2010-11, 2011-12 y 2013-14 se desarrolla un modelo experimental para evaluar las mejoras, tanto de rendimiento como de adquisición de competencias, utilizando el Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas y el Método del Caso acompañados de las TIC en el proceso de enseñanza–aprendizaje como modelo de Acción Tutorial con alumnos. ABSTRACT Abstract In the frame of the European Higher Education Area, the studies must be faced to facilitate mobility of future graduates for inclusion in the workplace is global and in this context, educational systems must introduce changes in the process of education-learning and management. Since one of the basic elements of the creation of the EHEA is learning throughout life, there must be adopted methodologies that provide the student of aptitudes to be able to face all the challenges of the labor life. Through this research it is provided a real vision of the effective application of a Model of Learning Based on Problems and the Case Method accompanied by a strong Tutorial Action and the use of ITC in the University. It is also considered of great interest for the improvement of learning to know what the real opinion of the college students is, as they are the main players in relation in a training model based on Problem-Based Learning, the Case Method, the Tutorial Action and Use of ICT. Through this study it is expected to verify and assess which is the real vision that students have about these applications and how they use them. In order to achieve the goal of this research project, during the last three years I have been working with students of last courses of the Civil Engineering School of the Technical University of Madrid applying with them techniques of Problem-Based Learning and the Case Method together with the use of a Model Action Tutorial and the Use of Information Technology and Communication (ICT). The task has focused on developing, over the 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2013-14 courses, a model of Tutorial Action with students enrolled in the subjects of Roads I, Roads II, Traffic Gauging and Traffic Management, all of them of the old degree in Civil Engineering (1971 Study Plan), and secondly, on the subject of Roads which belong to the current degree of Civil Engineering. Using questionnaires at the beginning and end of the course the perception that students have on this action.. Then, during the 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2013-14 courses an experimental model is developed to evaluate improvements in both performance and skills acquisition, using Problem-Based Learning and the Case Method together with the ICT in Teaching-Learning Pprocess as a model of Tutorial Action with students.