Implementing an IoT Energy Monitoring System Using the Challenge-based Learning Model

Building operations are responsible for a large amount of energy consumption therefore the development of energy-saving solutions for buildings represents a relevant challenge with a major impact on our global community. This paper presents the design and implementation of an IoT (Internet of Things) prototype for monitoring energy consumption which was developed by a group of undergraduate students to reinforce their disciplinary and cross-disciplinary competencies by applying the challenge-based learning model. This educative approach allows the students to provide a solution for a relevant problem by using modern technology and applying adequate methodologies. The developed prototype has been installed in the mechatronic laboratory building and has been evaluated by the users for six months. Obtained results show that the prototype has provided benefits by identifying energy management issues in the laboratory also from the academic perspective students that participated in the challenge had superior performance in comparison with the students that previously used the traditional learning model.