NEW LEARNING METHODOLOGIES APPLIED TO GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS: INCORPORATION OF THE PUZZLE APPROACH TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE (PRELIMINARY RESULTS)

The present study aims to evaluate the possible positive effects (both in grades and in engagement) in university engineering students’ subject of Chemistry of applying the puzzle methodology at the end of each topic of the course. Preliminary results from the evaluation of four student groups in two different semesters (2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic courses), two applying and two not applying the puzzle methodology, are presented. The use of the jigsaw/puzzle technique has found to be useful for improving both marks and students’ satisfaction with the subject. The engagement of the students, however, still remains an aspect to be reinforced.