Abstract
In 2012 the Instituto Tecnolo?gico de Costa Rica opened the Computer Engineering program at the recently created Centro Acade?mico de Alajuela. At that time there were neither research space nor resources available for undergraduate students to practice problem solving by applying theoretical concepts to real life problems. The Laboratorio Experimental was proposed in mid 2013 as a research initiative where students and faculty could engage together in projects powered by low cost open hardware and free software. This article shares the experiences learned by the proponents of the lab and a detailed explanation of the projects, also describes the results of students academic experience.
Highlights
Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica (TEC) is a public university in Costa Rica focused on Science and Technology
The results indicate that undergraduate students involved in Laboratorio experimental (LabExp)’s research projects improve their skills as follows: technical skills linked to solution designing; social skills, and professional skills, as well as improved understanding of theoretical concepts through practice
The LabExp offers the professors low-cost computing equipment to design educational dynamics aimed at improving understanding of the theoretical concepts of the courses
Summary
Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica (TEC) is a public university in Costa Rica focused on Science and Technology. The Computer Engineering (IC) Program is offered by academic units associated to the School of Computer Engineering in all five campuses, being the academic centers with the last three to start the program being: Centro Academico de Alajuela(2012), Centro academico de San Jose(2013) and Centro academico de Limon(2014) This program consists of a series of mandatory and optional courses encompassing specific areas of different computing disciplines, such as computer science, computer systems architecture, and software engineer-. In 2014, most of the academic units implementing the IC Program underwent an accreditation process with the Sistema Nacional de Acreditacion para la Educacion Superior (SINAES) This process highlighted among other things, the necessity to improve students’ writing and speaking skills, their abilities for teamwork and the application of research techniques and methodologies. During the past years the LabExp tested different forms of academic activities related to areas such as research methodologies, software development process, teamwork, and oral and written communication. Following sections include an evaluation of the laboratory’s impact, conclusions and future work
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
