EXPLORING THE USE OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE TEACHING OF GRAPHIC EXPRESSION IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
R. Plumed Ferrer
The integration of generative artificial intelligence into higher education is transforming teaching and learning methods across various disciplines. In the context of Graphic Expression in the Mechanical Engineering degree, tools such as ChatGPT can support both lesson planning and student knowledge acquisition. This study explores the application of large language models (LLMs) in the teaching of technical drawing and engineering writing, analyzing their impact on the understanding of standards and the development of communication skills.
Two educational experiences are presented in which ChatGPT is introduced as a support tool. The first involves implementing the "Expert Group" methodology for teaching technical drawing standards, where students work collaboratively with AI support to synthesize and present structured knowledge. The second experience introduces students to the use of generative AI in technical writing tasks, engaging them in an activity where they create texts on "The Revolution of AI in Mechanical Engineering" using effective prompts.
The results obtained indicate a positive impact on the teaching-learning process. The "Expert Group" methodology supported by ChatGPT fostered greater student engagement and facilitated content assimilation compared to traditional lectures. Additionally, academic performance improved in terms of pass rates and exam scores in the second midterm compared to previous courses. Regarding AI-assisted writing, students developed skills in formulating queries and structuring technical information, enhancing their written communication competencies in engineering.
These findings highlight the potential of generative AI as an educational resource, not only to optimize lesson planning but also to enrich students' learning experiences by promoting active methodologies and integrating emerging technologies into engineering education.
Keywords: Graphic Expression, Artificial Ingelligence, ChatGPT.