2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Development of a Cost-Effective Kit for an International Learning Experience in the Context of Generative Artificial Intelligence

One of the most common causes of school dropout is the lack of motivation due to academic strategies. This has an impact on their personal lives, as well as on their quality of life, opportunity taking and mental health. Additionally, it increases social inequality, which represents a huge loss of human potential.
In this paper, an interactive learning tool that complements the lessons of the school syllabus is provided; this as an outcome of a research collaboration between The University of Sheffield, UK and Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico. Here, the research work is encouraged to use responsible and ethical applications of Artificial Intelligence. In relation to the 2030 Agenda containing the Sustainable Development Goals presented by the UN in 2015, it focuses directly on the development of the goals related to the objectives of Quality Education, Reduction of Inequalities, and Responsible Production and Consumption, which correspond to goals 4, 10 and 12 respectively.
The product consists of low-cost 3D assembling models made with layers of sustainable and recycled materials. By implementing this attractive teaching instruments, it is demonstrated the commitment to responsible resource usage and environmental impact mitigation in different levels; this, taking advantage of the versatility and worldwide use of laser cutting technology. Hence, it is possible to design each model according to the specific needs of the selected group, e.g., models for students of different academic levels and for people with various types of mental conditions, representing a cognitive ability exercise.
Additionally, a digital platform with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools related to a specific model is developed, hence, the use of interactive systems in classrooms is useful for teachers and highly efficient for students, giving positive effects on learning and having an increase in school motivation. This interactive teaching methods maintains the depth of the topics, reinforcing learning with activities, instead of allowing to divide the student's attention and limit their learning.
The evaluation of the impact of this learning tool on the student’s skills development is carried out by the workshop implementation in Kelham Island Museum at Sheffield, UK. Henceforth, comparison of the students’ performance before and after the implementation of the tools is done. Therefore, it can be analyzed if there is indeed a direct correlation between those concepts.

Authors

Dr. Carlos Sotelo http://orcid.org/https://0000-0001-9146-5820 Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences [biography]

Carlos Sotelo is a Research Assistant Professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey. He received his B.S. in Mechatronics Engineering and his M.S. degree in Automation and Control Engineering, the two degrees from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, México in 2010 and 2015 respectively. Furthermore, he has received his M.S. degree in Systems, Control and I&T from the Université Joseph Fourier of Grenoble, France in 2014. Finally, in 2019, he received his PhD degree after several publications, he is currently ascribed in the Mobility research group at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Monterrey City, member of the Mexican National Research System SNI-I. His main research interests are nonlinear control, mechatronics, parametric identification and predictive control of refinery processes.
Dr. David Sotelo http://orcid.org/https://0000-0003-3060-7033 Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences [biography]

David Sotelo is a Research Assistant Professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey. He received his B.S. in Mechatronics Engineering and his M.S. degree in Automation and Control Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, México in 2010 and 2015 respectively. Moreover, in 2014 he has received his M.S. degree in Systems, Control and I&T from the Université Joseph Fourier of Grenoble, France. In 2019, he received his PhD degree with several publications. Nowadays, he is ascribed in the Mobility research group at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Monterrey City, member of the Mexican National Research System SNI-I. His main research interests are optimal and robust control, process identification and design of control structures in crude oil distillation columns.
Dr. Erick Ramírez-Cedillo Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences [biography]

Erick Ramírez-Cedillo is the Director of the Innovation and Transformation Program at the School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnológico de Monterrey. He holds a Bachelor's in Mechatronics Engineering, a Master's in Manufacturing Systems, and a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from Tecnológico de Monterrey. He is part of the Research Group of Industrial Transformation and a member of the National Research System (SNI) at Level 1. His research focuses on Additive Manufacturing, Manufacturing Systems Automation, Robotics, Educational Innovation, Advanced Materials, and Medical Devices.
Ing. Félix Martínez-Jiménez Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences [biography]

Félix Martínez-Jiménez is a Master of Science in Engineering student at Tecnológico de Monterrey. He holds a B.S. in Mechatronics Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey. He works as a teacher assistant in the mechatronics department and forms part of the electromobility research group at Tecnológico de Monterrey. His main research interests are predictive control, autonomous vehicles, and embedded systems.
Dr. Ana I. Benavides Lahnstein Manchester Metropolitan University [biography]

Dr Ana Benavides Lahnstein is a researcher and lecturer with over ten years of experience in educational research and six years in higher education teaching. Her work focuses on global citizenship, environmental education for sustainability, and science education. She has led and contributed to the evaluation of transdisciplinary continuing professional development (CPD) programmes in science education, examining their impact on teachers’ practices and student learning. Ana’s research also explores the pedagogical potential of environmental citizen science, particularly how science learning occurs through participation in community-based projects. She is currently a Research Associate at Manchester Metropolitan University and an Associate Lecturer at the Open University, where she teaches undergraduate modules on international education and research with children and young people.
Dr. Alison Buxton University of Sheffield [biography]

Dr Alison Buxton is a Senior Innovation Fellow in the School of Education at the University of Sheffield, UK and is academic lead for the Maker{Futures} programme. She has a background in historic building conservation and has been leading engineering education and engagement for 25 years. She specialises in maker education and is the founder of Maker{School}, supporting primary and special schools to develop their makerspace provision and pedagogy.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025