“Speed-Dating” as a Learning Method in Online Synchronous Classes

Abstract

Since COVID-19, many educational institutions have focused their attention towards remote digital synchronous learning. While this new kind of learning brings some advantages, it also brings new challenges like keeping the students focused and engaged in the courses being given. Through this paper we introduce a learning strategy based on some of the principles of speeddating, a tool that has been explored in the entrepreneurship world for networking, in order to maintain the students' focus in the class activities and topics. The proposal was tested in a Process Automation course for Chemical and Biotechnology Engineers, which is usually not one of their preferred ones due to its complexity in relation to other courses. A framework for incorporating the activities in other courses is presented, along with preliminary quantitative and qualitative results to evaluate its efficacy.