Coelho, João PauloSeixas, Inês2023-03-212023-03-212023Coelho, João Paulo; Seixas, Ines (2023). Learning mechatronics in the MacGyver way. In Proceedings TEEM 2022: Tenth International Conference on Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing Multiculturality. Singapore: Springer Nature. p. 1127-1134http://hdl.handle.net/10198/27905This paper describes a pedagogical methodology used at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, in the mechatronics curricular unit of the master’s degree in Industrial Engineering. In order to promote out-of-the-box thinking, a contest was organised where students should use recycled and repurposed materials to build a vehicle that could be used in a hypothetical rescue scenario. By preventing the use of off-the-shelf solutions, creativity and ingenuity in engineering problem solving are promoted. Obtained results suggest that, in the vast majority, students adhere end embrace such a challenge with motivation and enthusiasm. By addressing the mechatronics learning outcomes from a gamification point-of-view, students were able to grasp, in a practical context, key concepts in this curricular unit that would, otherwise, be less evident.engPedagogical methodologyIndustrial engineeringconference paper10.1007/978-981-99-0942-1_119