Growing Student Engagement and Teacher Efficiency at INS La Mercè

About the Institut Mare de Déu de la Mercè

The Institut Mare de Déu de la Mercè, also known as INS La Mercè, is a vocational training centre in Barcelona, part of the public network of post-compulsory education under Catalunya’s Department of Education. The school defines itself as an inclusive and plural centre committed to delivering high-quality technical education.

The Department of Vehicle Transport and Maintenance offers both intermediate and higher-level training cycles. Since 2020, it has relied on Electude’s digital learning solutions to overcome some of its most significant challenges and better prepare the next generation of automotive professionals.

Challenges

Student engagement

Traditional teaching methods were often rigid and uninspiring, making it challenging to keep students motivated. 

Mixed learning speeds

Some students advanced quickly while others struggled, leaving teachers with the challenge of supporting both groups without leaving anyone behind. 

Excessive workload for teachers

Teachers spent too much time correcting exercises, grading, and creating materials from scratch, leaving less time for personalised support. 

Solutions

To address these challenges, INS La Mercè implemented Electude Light Vehicle Classroom, along with Heavy Vehicle and Electric Vehicle Essentials. Teachers have used Electude since 2020 to explain theoretical concepts, assign homework, and prepare students for practical sessions and exams. They also benefit from built-in assessment and tracking tools, reducing administrative workload. 

For students, Electude combines visual learning, interactivity, and hands-on simulations, allowing them to make mistakes, learn from them, and truly understand how automotive systems work, even without direct access to a car. 

Results

Higher student engagement

Since adopting Electude, INS La Mercè has seen a very positive response from students and a clear improvement in motivation. Learners find the modules more entertaining, hands-on, and relevant than traditional methods. According to teachers, even students who previously showed little interest have begun studying on their own.

Electude connects better with students, makes them think, practice, and take responsibility for their own learning. You can see the difference in their results and their attitude. (…) Many students tell me they use it at home to study before practicals or exams. To me, that’s a clear sign the tool works.

Carlos Piqué

Inclusive learning for all

Electude helps students by making the complex simple and by letting them learn at their own pace. Teachers can support struggling learners while also challenging advanced students, ensuring no one is left behind.

One powerful example given by Carlos Piqué was a student who had struggled for months with electrical circuits. Traditional explanations left him lost, but with Electude’s simulators, he finally understood how the components worked and started to participate more in the classes. “By the end of the course, he got a good grade, and more importantly, he gained a lot of confidence. It was a turning point for him,” says Carlos Piqué.

Significant time savings for teachers

With automatic grading and ready-to-use materials and tests, teachers can focus less on repetitive tasks and more on teaching and inspiring. They can also easily and quickly track students’ progress. 

By adopting Electude, the Institut Mare de Déu de la Mercè transformed its automotive training program. Lessons are now more engaging and effective, and teachers have more time to focus on what matters most: supporting and inspiring their students.