Evaluation strategies in Mechatronics Technical Pedagogy: a case study at the Central University of Ecuador (2024)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69821/rer.v3i1.34Keywords:
Educational evaluation, teaching strategies, technical competencies, higher educationAbstract
This study analyzes the assessment techniques used by faculty in the Mechatronics Engineering program at the Central University of Ecuador during 2024. A mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) with an exploratory, descriptive, and cross-sectional design was adopted. Data collection included structured Likert-type surveys administered to faculty and students, supplemented by an analysis of course syllabi and institutional regulations. The research aims to identify the assessment strategies used, estimate their effectiveness, and examine their relationship with student academic performance. It also investigates the extent to which these practices align with the competency-based approach and the demands of the current technical and professional context. The analysis considers key elements such as the diversity of assessment methods, the incorporation of technologies, the clarity of criteria, the quality of feedback, and the relevance of the instruments used. The results will allow for linking assessment practices with levels of academic performance, recognizing strengths, and identifying areas for improvement. The findings are expected to guide the improvement of the evaluation to better reflect the reality of the student body and the demands of the industrial sector, contributing to pedagogical innovation and institutional decision-making to raise the quality of higher technical education.
Downloads
References
Biggs, J., & Tang, C. (2011). Teaching for quality learning at university (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (1998). Assessment and classroom learning. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 5(1), 7–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/0969595980050102
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2018). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (5th ed.). SAGE.
Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81–112. https://doi.org/10.3102/003465430298487
Krippendorff, K. (2013). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology (3rd ed.). SAGE.
Nicol, D. J., & Macfarlane-Dick, D. (2006). Formative assessment and self-regulated learning: A model and seven principles of good feedback practice. Studies in Higher Education, 31(2), 199–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070600572090
Tardif, J. (2006). L’évaluation des compétences: Documenter le parcours de développement. Chenelière Éducation.
Tobón, S. (2013). Formación integral y competencias: Pensamiento complejo, currículo, didáctica y evaluación (4.ª ed.). Ecoe Ediciones.
Wiggins, G. (1990). The case for authentic assessment. Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, 2(1).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Janneth Paguay (Autor/a)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
a. The authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which allows third parties to use the published work provided they acknowledge the authorship and the original publication in this journal.
b. Authors may enter into separate, additional contractual agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the article published in this journal (e.g., including it in an institutional repository or publishing it in a book), provided they clearly indicate that the work was first published in this journal.
c. Authors are permitted and encouraged to share their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on personal websites) before and during the manuscript submission process, as this can lead to productive exchanges and increased and faster citation of the published work.