scholarly journals Analyzing effectiveness of active learning through project-based learning approach in university level ICT courses

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-69
Author(s):  
Dhiraj Shrestha ◽  
Satyendra Nath Lohani ◽  
Roshan Manjushree Adhikari

The concept of Active Learning (AL), which has journeyed through multiple research studies over the years, is an important part of the teaching learning process at academic institutions. The present study applies active learning via project-based approaches where students engage in real life projects and solve associated complications with their research, communication, and technical skills. As a case study of effectiveness of project-based learning (PBL), especially in engineering project contexts, the present research is conducted among students studying computer science and engineering at Kathmandu University (KU), Nepal. The key findings of the study suggest that PBL assignments have helped students in their active learning processes. This paper also compares teaching and learning approaches of KU with other IT institutions of Nepal.

Author(s):  
Gérard Lachiver

The USherbrooke Faculty of Engineering is recognized as a leader in innovation and research in engineering education. The Université de Sherbrooke was the second university in Canada to offer co-op programs for its students in 1966 and is now among the top 10 higher education institutions in North America for the significance of its co-op system. The faculty of engineering was the first in Canada to offer an undergraduate mechanical engineering program based on professional competencies with design as the ultimate competency integration activity - the backbone of the entire program. In 2001, we introduced completely redesigned electrical and computer engineering programs based on two complementary frameworks. The first one is a competency-based framework used to have a better alignment between teaching/learning activities, program objectives and competences development. The second one, called the learning framework, introduces a paradigm shift from passive to active learning methodologies with the deployment of problem and project based learning situations. Over the years, the faculty of engineering has developed many original approaches to both design of curriculum and faculty organisation. We also developed considerable expertise to improve teaching and learning especially integration of curriculum elements, the development of team skills and of a professional culture, the use of design projects extending over more than one year with links to industry, the use of portfolio to track competencies development, active learning environment such as problem and project-based learning and in utilising novel assessment techniques to improve learning. All these initiatives have been made possible by creating winning conditions to involve faculty members in pedagogical research activities and implementation methodologies. To do that we provided institutional financial support (faculty, university), encouragement, teaching load relief, recognition of faculty involvement in tenure and promotion, professional support for CEAB accreditation requirements, etc.


Author(s):  
Y.V. Oktysiuk ◽  
O.V. Atamanchuk

Global changes in all spheres of human life require medical education to form students' conscious attitude towards their own lives, mental and physical development, education, and further medical career. Practical classes are a type of teaching within a variety of teaching and learning approaches providing the close interaction and cooperation between the students and tutors and posing real-life tasks. It is at practical classes when the tutors or mentors can and should conduct a controlled evolving of concepts and development of skills. Making a collective decision and discussing clinical problems is one of the forms of interactive education that enables future doctors to learn how to express their thoughts correctly, how to clearly substantiate decisions. Unlike the traditional classes, this form gives the students an opportunity to check up themselves, to make decisions based on the main principles of the diagnosis and treatment of various nosological forms. The article presents an experience of fostering professional competencies in the 5th year students of the Faculty of Dentistry by applying a case study, an interactive teaching method (case-study method) during the course of paediatric therapeutic dentistry at the Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University. This technique contributes to strengthening the generation of students’ knowledge and its shaping through independent activities and collective discussion; it also boosts students’ intellectual skills, creating and critical thinking. As for the tutors and mentors, this type of teaching form is an effective way to get feedback and contributes to the ability to effectively correct the ways to shape knowledge, and to organize consultancy assistance to students. The combination of interactive methods and other methods of knowledge, skills and competence building and the active independent work of students, the creation of the system and algorithm for implementing these methods, perfect mastery of their mentors and partnership, mutual respect between the teachers and students is a guarantee of the training of a highly competent specialist.


Author(s):  
Jacobus N. Cronjé

Business managers and students often criticise university teaching for not addressing real-life problems. Furthermore, professors are dissatisfied with the research capabilities of postgraduate students. This paper advocates an integrated approach to teaching and learning based on the features of project-based learning aimed at enhancing the practical and research skills of undergraduate students in Logistics. A case study is presented where third-year students were engaged in a real-life project in collaboration with industry, exposing them to collaborative learning, questionnaire design, surveys, analysing and evaluating results, literature review and report writing. The project was carried out in phases where students were assessed after each phase. The paper analyses the assessment of students and their perception of the value of the project. It is concluded that an integrated teaching and learning approach will increase students’ interest in the subject, understanding of theoretical concepts, research skills, business skills and life skills.


Author(s):  
Sani Alhaji Garba ◽  
Byabazaire Yusuf ◽  
Abdul Hamid Busthami

ICT Infrastructure and internet connectivity in educational institutions provides learners and teachers the opportunity of adopting 21st century teaching-learning methods that promotes the development of 21st century skills. The availability of internet connectivity in particular provides the platform for a shift from the use of teacher-centered pedagogy (content-based learning) to learner-centered pedagogy (inquiry and project-based learning) that is more interactive and activity oriented. But are teachers utilizing these facilities to advantage? This study investigates the use of ICT and internet resources in relation to the use of 21st century technology-based teaching-learning approaches in Malaysia and Asia Pacific context from a global perspective. Qualitative research approach was used for data collection and analysis in the study. Findings from the study show a unique unexpected changing pattern in the use of computer and internet among school teachers; and new challenges associated with the integration of ICT and the use of 21st century approaches in classroom pedagogical practices were identified. As observed in the study, despite the facilities provided; the technological competence acquired by teachers; and, the increasing use of computer and internet by teachers; the approach to teaching and learning has not change as desired.


sjesr ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-232
Author(s):  
Dr. Sarwat Jabeen ◽  
Abdul Rashid ◽  
Dr. Samia Naz

Recently, the concept of Critical thinking got much significance in the teaching and learning process. Thinking creatively and critically in the English language beckons our representation in different domains of development as well. The present study is aimed to investigate the on-going teaching-learning process of English Language Teaching at University Level in South Punjab from the perspective of critical thinking. The theoretical insights have been taken from Freire’s Banking concept of education in his seminal work, Pedagogy of the Oppressed (2018). The findings of the study reveal that our ELT classrooms are lacking the creativity and critical thinking at large. Further in our classrooms, the Banking Model of teaching is being practiced where a student remains passive and the teacher is considered as the ultimate source of knowledge. It points out that our teaching and learning process is moving on some faulty lines which need revisions and amendments. It is suggested that the Problem Posing Model of teaching and learning may be adopted in our ELT Classrooms so that our graduates at the university level may think critically and independently.


Author(s):  
Elena Bartolomé ◽  
Paula Benítez

Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is a powerful quality tool, widely used in industry, for the identification of failure modes, their effects and causes. In this work, we investigated the utility of FMEA in the education field to improve active learning processes. In our case study, the FMEA principles were adapted to assess the risk of failures in a Mechanical Engineering course on “Theory of Machines and Mechanisms” conducted through a project-based, collaborative “Study and Research Path (SRP)” methodology. The SRP is an active learning instruction format which is initiated by a generating question that leads to a sequence of derived questions and answers, and combines moments of study and inquiry. By applying the FMEA, the teaching team was able to identify the most critical failures of the process, and implement corrective actions to improve the SRP in the subsequent year. Thus, our work shows that FMEA represents a simple tool of risk assesment which can serve to identify criticality in educational process, and improve the quality of active learning.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8-9 ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanda Porumb ◽  
Cosmin Porumb ◽  
Aurel Vlaicu ◽  
Bogdan Orza

An important part of the articles published in the last years highlight teaching and learning approaches and technologies integrated in complex applications and present the concepts used for creating and presenting the educational content. They refer to the methodologies used in self-and collaborative learning, including problem-and project-based learning. The assessment process is also illustrated in several articles but there is no a generic framework that complies with the rules of both formal and non-formal education acts. Our proposal is focused on advanced concepts for improving the educational services and the manner a generic framework for blended learning can be customized for higher education and lifelong learning. In addition, the paper proposes a virtual collaboration prototype that supports interpersonal and inter-process collaborative learning services that can be used as core of any rapidly growing educational community.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Perks ◽  
Doug Orr ◽  
Elham Al-Omari

This case study examines the physical aspects of a particular university classroom, and what affect specific changes to the classroom had on the perceptions of students, instructors and observers regarding the room as an effective learning space. We compare survey and focus group data collected from students taking courses in the classroom prior to changes to the physical environment with comparable data from students taking courses in the same classroom after specific changes had been made. Immediately following changes to the classroom, notable increases were observed in reported perceptions of student satisfaction with the physical environment, including perceptions of the classroom as a more effective and engaging learning space. Similar perceptions of improvement as a teaching-learning space were reported by instructors and observers. However, subsequent follow-up data collection and analyses suggested little if any sustained increase in perceptions of efficacy of the room as a learning space; indeed, most reported variables returned to baseline levels. The implications of these findings and their relevance to classroom design nevertheless may provide insight regarding the manner in which physical space might support or even enhance teaching and learning.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Renol Aprico Siregar

As teaching is considered as a lifelong process, teachers should always intend to develop themselves to be able to effectively conduct the teaching and learning process. This study aimed at exploring the view of pre-service English teachers towards the effective 21st-century teachers’ pedagogical competence and how they develop their pedagogical competence for their future teaching. The data were obtained through interviews and questionnaires. The study was qualitatively conducted as a case study by involving 12 pre-service English teachers purposively chosen due to their familiarity with the study issue. The results indicated that in terms of 21st-century education, the participants perceived that the pedagogical competence focused on teachers’ capability of integrating the technology in classrooms and teachers’ ability to exploit adjusted methods and materials which furnish students with skills appropriate to their future real-life careers.  Further, there were eight very crucial traits of effective 21st-century pedagogical competence perceived by the participants. They were extended to; facilitating and inspiring students to learn creatively, utilizing, designin


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 9337-9360
Author(s):  
S. W. Lyon ◽  
M. T. Walter ◽  
E. J. Jantze ◽  
J. A. Archibald

Abstract. Structuring an education strategy capable of addressing the various spheres of ecohydrology is difficult due to the inter-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary nature of this emergent field. Clearly, there is a need for such strategies to accommodate more progressive educational concepts while highlighting a skills-based education. To demonstrate a possible way to develop courses that include such concepts, we offer a case-study or a "how-you-can-do-it" example from an ecohydrology course recently co-taught by teachers from Stockholm University and Cornell University at the Navarino Environmental Observatory (NEO) in Costa Navarino, Greece. This course focused on introducing hydrology Master's students to some of the central concepts of ecohydrology while at the same time supplying process-based understanding relevant for characterizing evapotranspiration. As such, the main goal of the course was to explore central theories in ecohydrology and their connection to plant-water interactions and the water cycle in a semiarid environment. In addition to presenting this roadmap for ecohydrology course development, we explore the utility and effectiveness of adopting active teaching and learning strategies drawing from the suite of learn-by-doing, hands-on, and inquiry-based techniques in such a course. We test a gradient of "activeness" across a sequence of three teaching and learning activities. Our results indicate that there was a clear advantage for utilizing active learning techniques in place of traditional lecture-based styles. In addition, there was a preference among the student towards the more "active" techniques. This demonstrates the added value of incorporating even the simplest active learning approaches in our ecohydrology (or general) teaching.


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