Writing Sci-Fi stories: a pedagogic challenge

The world is witnessing a radical technological change at a rate never seen before. Terms such as internet of things, big data, cloud computing, 3D printing, pillars of the fourth industrial revolution, have had great impact on education. Not only the roll of universities and their educational models is changing, but also the way we learn. In Mexico, Tecnologico de Monterrey is responding to such demands by the introduction of its new educational Tec 21 model. It is characterized by promoting the creation of new approaches and tools to create innovative learning experiences. In this context, here we report on the results obtained from an experience implementing the creative tool of writing Sci-Fi stories as a gamification strategy. By re-discovering the genre of Science Fiction and introducing some elements of storytelling, students can build abstract concepts and comprehend mathematical models within a playful environment based on actual engineering facts. During the period between August 2018 and May 2019, a ludic activity was developed for sophomore students reading for chemical and biotechnology engineering degrees to facilitate the comprehension of physicochemical phenomena of phase equilibrium and thermodynamics.