2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Interactive Digital Panels as Catalysts for Hybrid Learning in Pre-Engineering Programs

Presented at Pre-College Engineering Education Division (PCEE) Poster Session

This Work in Progress paper describes the design and initial implementation of a hybrid learning activity developed for high school students enrolled in a pre-technology program offered by a higher education institution focused on undergraduate degrees in technology-related fields, with emphasis on Artificial Intelligence. The activity takes plane in a program named Mauá Experience at the Institute Mauá of Technology, and aims to introduce engineering-related practices, such as problem identification, ideation, and solution conceptualization, through a Design Thinking approach supported by a collaborative digital whiteboard environment. The activity was structured around a single shared digital panel that guided students through the stages of empathy, problem definition, ideation, and the formulation of a preliminary project proposal. Students initially collaborated to identify everyday problems in a collective space and subsequently progressed through individual stages, using the panel as a continuous visual representation of the design process. The digital environment enabled the simultaneous visualization of individual and collective work, supporting student autonomy while maintaining awareness of peer contributions. Rather than emphasizing technical implementation or advanced programming skills, the activity focused on conceptual design practices relevant to engineering and computational thinking. As a Work in Progress, this paper does not present formal assessment data or causal claims regarding learning outcomes. Instead, it documents the instructional design of the activity, the structure and use of the collaborative digital environment, and preliminary observations based on the artifacts produced by the students, with the goal of supporting replication and future refinement of similar hybrid, design-oriented learning experiences in pre-college engineering education.

Authors

Dr. Diego Hernandez Arjoni http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8310-6593 Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia [biography]

Diego Hernandez Arjoni is a Professor at Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia (IMT), Brazil, where he teaches courses in Control and Automation Engineering and coordinates initiatives related to robotics, artificial intelligence, and engineering education. He holds a Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA), with research focused on augmented and virtual reality applications for flight training and human factors. His current interests include hybrid learning environments, digital twins, industrial automation, and the use of emerging technologies to enhance engineering education and student engagement.
Miss Andressa Corrente Martins Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia [biography]

Andressa Martins is holds a master's degree in Aerospace Systems and Mechatronics with a focus on Robotics from the Aeronautics Institute of Technology and a degree in Control and Automation Engineering from the Universidade Paulista. Currently, she is a professor at the Mauá Institute of Technology. She has experience in the field of Control and Automation Engineering (Mechatronics), working mainly on the following topics: Intelligent Systems, Digital Twin, Industrial Automation, Instrumentation, Robotics, Mechanism Design, and Engineering Fundamentals.
Fernando Silveira Madani Ph.D. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5576-1494 Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia [biography]

Fernando Silveira Madani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Control and Automation Engineering (Mechatronics) and a Ph.D. in the same field, with extensive experience in engineering education, including over 20 years of teaching and more than 18 years in academic leadership as a Program Director. He obtained his M.Sc. (2001) and Ph.D. (2009) in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering from the Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA), with research emphasis on Aerospace Systems Dynamics and Mechatronics. He completed his undergraduate studies at Universidade Paulista in 1997.

He is currently Vice-Provost at the Centro Universitário do Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia, where he is also a researcher affiliated with the Intelligent Mechatronic Systems and Robotics (S.M.I.R.) research group. In addition, he serves as a member of evaluation committees of the Brazilian Ministry of Education (INEP/MEC), contributing to the assessment of undergraduate programs in Control and Automation Engineering and Mechatronics.

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