An interactive Python-Streamlit application to strengthen vector learning for engineering students

Abstract

This paper presents an educational innovation based on an interactive web application developed in Python and deployed online using Streamlit, aimed at reinforcing the learning of vector algebra in first-year engineering students. The activity focuses on practicing basic algebraic operations with vectors in two and three dimensions, including conceptual knowledge. The application is designed according to an active and adaptive learning approach, in which students progress through successive levels. If a response is incorrect, alternative versions of the same-level problem are generated, allowing students to retry without penalty. To evaluate the impact of the activity, a pre-test and a post-test were administered, including procedural problems, open questions and Likert-scale items. The intervention was implemented in seven first-year engineering groups, summing a total of 155 students. The comparative analysis of pre- and post-test results shows that the average score increased by 7.15 points and that the dispersion of the data decreased, indicating a more homogeneous level of understanding among students after the activity. Additionally, the students perception highlight their preference for the use of interactive applications, emphasizing that such tools make the learning process more engaging and interesting.