Metallurgy experiences through a flexible remote laboratory with programmable devices

Abstract

The objective of this work is to evaluate the potential of the remote laboratory based on the use of an electric arc furnace simu-lator as a learning resource at a time when, due to the prevailing circumstances, it is impossible to visit companies in the metal-lurgical sector. Advanced chemical engineering students have regularly used the remote laboratory and simulators and have evaluated it through surveys in order to investigate whether it is possible to carry out real experiences in faculties that do not have the necessary equipment. Simultaneously, the reports presented by the students were analyzed to evaluate the learning achieved using the Toulmin Argumentative Model. This document first presents the description of the electric arc furnace simu-lator, the analysis of the opinions of the students and the arguments identified in the responses to the situations raised. The results obtained allow us to affirm that the use of remote laboratories and simulators is useful as it allows students to actively participate in the construction of their own learning, and draw conclusions based on real data.