DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A TECHNOPEDAGOGICAL ARTIFACT BASED ON DESIGN SCIENCE RESEARCH FOR TEACHING INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES IN THE INDUSTRY 5.0 ERA
Virtual Laboratory. Industry 5.0. Active Methodologies. Production Engineering. Design Science Research. Generations Z and Alpha.
This research addresses the challenge of modernizing practical Production Engineering (EoP) teaching in light of Industry 5.0 paradigms and the profile of new generations of students. The central problem lies in the inadequacy of traditional physical laboratories and passive methodologies for developing complex sociotechnical skills. The overall objective was to develop and evaluate an Interactive Virtual Laboratory of Industrial Processes (IVPIL), a techno-pedagogical tool anchored in the principles of Active Methodologies (PBL, LbD), Industry 5.0 (sustainability, human-centricity), and user-centered design for generations Z and Alpha. The research followed the Design Science Research (DSR) paradigm, going through cycles of construction and evaluation. The tool was developed as a Single-Page Application (SPA) with a layered architecture (React.js/Three.js, Node.js, MongoDB), incorporating process simulation modules with trade-offs and gamification elements. The integrated pedagogical framework was designed to promote a cycle of experiential learning (contextualization, experimentation, and reflection). The artifact's evaluation, in turn, was based on a validation model consisting of two stages: (1) heuristic evaluation with experts in the fields of EoP, Educational Technology, and Instructional Design; and (2) a pilot study model, using the System Usability Scale (SUS) to measure usability and pre- and post-tests to assess pedagogical effectiveness. Initially, the research developed a pedagogically grounded technological artifact and critically evaluated its potential, offering a detailed design and a replicable application model that provides reliable parameters and a clear methodological path for future implementation and validation in real educational contexts.