{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,13]],"date-time":"2026-01-13T15:28:03Z","timestamp":1768318083718,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,13]],"date-time":"2026-01-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768262400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Computers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study presents the design and implementation of a full-stack IoT ecosystem based on ESP32 microcontrollers and web-based visualization dashboards to support scientific reasoning in first-year engineering students. The proposed architecture integrates a four-layer model\u2014perception, network, service, and application\u2014enabling students to deploy real-time environmental monitoring systems for agriculture and beekeeping. Through a sixteen-week Project-Based Learning (PBL) intervention with 91 participants, we evaluated how this technological stack influences technical proficiency. Results indicate that the transition from local code execution to cloud-based telemetry increased perceived learning confidence from \u03bc=3.9 (Challenge phase) to \u03bc=4.6 (Reflection phase) on a 5-point scale. Furthermore, 96% of students identified the visualization dashboards as essential Human\u2013Computer Interfaces (HCI) for debugging, effectively bridging the gap between raw sensor data and evidence-based argumentation. These findings demonstrate that integrating open-source IoT architectures provides a scalable mechanism to cultivate data literacy in early engineering education.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/computers15010051","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,13]],"date-time":"2026-01-13T09:27:12Z","timestamp":1768296432000},"page":"51","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Integrating ESP32-Based IoT Architectures and Cloud Visualization to Foster Data Literacy in Early Engineering Education"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Jael","family":"Zambrano-Mieles","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Vinculaci\u00f3n, Universidad Estatal de Milagro, Milagro 092301, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Miguel","family":"Tupac-Yupanqui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"EAP Ingenier\u00eda de Sistemas e Inform\u00e1tica, Universidad Continental, Huancayo 05001, Peru"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Salutar","family":"Mari-Loardo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela de Educaci\u00f3n Tecnol\u00f3gica Asociaci\u00f3n de Exportadores ADEX, Lima 15021, Peru"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1600-3447","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristian","family":"Vidal-Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Visualizaci\u00f3n Interactiva y Realidad Virtual, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8369","DOI":"10.1109\/TEM.2024.3382951","article-title":"Industry 4.0 Skills in Industrial Engineering Courses: Contributing to the Role of Universities Toward Sustainable Development","volume":"71","author":"Bueno","year":"2024","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. 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