INTEGRATING SOFT COMPUTING AND ACTIVE LEARNING STRATEGIES IN UNIVERSITY-LEVEL ROBOTICS EDUCATION INTEGRANDO COMPUTAÇÃO SOFT E ESTRATÉGIAS DE APRENDIZAGEM ATIVA

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.5832531034

• Palavras-chave: Robótica, sistemas de computadores inteligentes, aprendizagem baseada em projetos.

• Keywords: Robotics, intelligent computer systems, project-based learning

• Abstract: This study presents the implementation of robotics instruction within the undergraduate Mechatronics Engineering program at the Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR), Brazil, emphasizing the integration of intelligent computational systems and active learning methodologies. The proposed approach emerged as a response to the pedagogical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While no comprehensive statistical analysis of student satisfaction was conducted, qualitative observations suggest a high level of student engagement and interest. This is evidenced by the initiation of several undergraduate thesis projects that originated from seminar discussions within the course. The methodology adopted focuses on problem-based learning, supported by the presentation and explanation of computational models, which students then applied in their own experiments. It is important to note that the application of intelligent systems was not mandated for all problems discussed, allowing for methodological flexibility. Individual results and reflections are explored throughout the paper. The article concludes with final considerations and directions for future work.