The Use of Learning Objects as an Alternative for Providing Curriculum Flexibility in Engineering Courses

Abstract

This chapter is intended for tutors, professors, and students, and seeks to contribute to the development of online communication activities as a means of providing curriculum flexibility in engineering courses. It describes the use of online learning resources, called Learning Objects (LO), and their development at the Pontifical Catholic University of Parana (PUCPR) by a multidisciplinary staff. The design of the LOs takes into account the difficulties students encounter during face-to-face activities as reported in previous studies carried out by the authors during their teaching careers. LOs allow Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to be used as an aid to face-to-face learning, with reorganized learning and teaching strategies. LOs are available in the university’s own virtual environment, Eureka, and can be accessed by approximately 14,000 students and more than 1,200 teaching staff at the institution. Student feedback was also collected and is described here.