Cabaran pembelajaran era pandemik : simptom stres di kalangan pelajar program Kejuruteraan Mekanikal UKM

Keadaan pandemik yang melanda dunia sejak penghujung 2019 telah mengubah landskap pembelajaran di universiti. Dengan perubahan pembelajaran secara dalam talian, masa yang perlu diluangkan oleh pelajar di depan komputer adalah lama. Tuntutan menghadiri kuliah secara dalam talian adalah hampir sepanjang hari. Manakala komponen pentaksiran seperti kuiz, tugasan, projek dan makmal telah diubah mengikut kesesuaian era pandemik bagi menepati kaedah pembelajaran baru ini. Walau bagaimanapun, perubahan pembelajaran dan beban pentaksiran ketika musim pandemik dilihat memberi impak kepada kesihatan mental pelajar. Oleh demikian, kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengenalpasti simptom stres yang dihadapi oleh pelajar ketika musim pandemik. Satu kaji selidik secara atas talian telah dijalankan yang melibatkan 173 pelajar Tahun 1 hingga 4 program Kejuruteraan Mekanikal di Jabatan Kejuruteraan Mekanikal dan Pembuatan (JKMP), UKM. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk melihat hubungkait antara simptom stres dengan tahap beban pentaksiran atau beban pembelajaran yang dialami oleh pelajar semasa pembelajaran dalam era pandemik ini. Kajian ini juga telah mengaitkan dan mengembangkan model kegagalan bahan menurut bidang kejuruteraan khususnya sifat mekanik dan tingkah laku bahan. Kefahaman terhadap 4 keadaan di mana stres yang dikenakan boleh dikategorikan sebagai keadaan kompleks yang mampu memberi implikasi kepada kegagalan bahan kejuruteraan, telah dikembangkan untuk mengenalpasti stres terhadap pelajar. Kajian menunjukkan 78% pelajar berpandangan bahawa bebanan aktiviti pembelajaran adalah antara faktor penyebab stres mereka. Namun, hanya 6.9% pelajar merasakan akviti pentaksiran yang diberikan adalah sangat membebankan. Simptom stres yang dihadapi oleh pelajar telah ditunjukkan pada pemikiran, emosi dan fizikal pelajar. Hasil kajian ini memberi implikasi terhadap keperluan kepada program untuk mewujudkan kalendar pentaksiran yang lebih bersifat holistik, melaksanakan program perkongsian mentalsihat dan program jom senaman yang boleh membantu mengurangkan stres dan meningkatkan motivasi pelajar. Kajian ini diharapkan mampu memberi maklumbalas yang lebih tepat terhadap isu stres dari persepektif pelajar dengan lebih jelas

Vortex measurement at bell-shaped pump inlet using particle image velocimetry

The vortex formed at the pump intake is known to be the main factor affecting the performance of a pump and it contributes directly to the increase of energy consumption. This study was aimed at obtaining an in-depth visualization and identifying the characteristics of the vortices generated by the installation of a bell-shaped suction inlet in a pump-induced flow using particle image velocimetry (PIV). A complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera was used to capture images of the illuminated bubbles in a sump pump model. The PIV images were analysed using PIVlab, which provided representations of the 2-D plane velocities and vorticities around the inlet of the pump. The measurements were taken at four different planes that were coaxial with the bell circumference below the bell inlet. The results showed that the diameter of the vortex structure became smaller as it approached the bell inlet. Higher values of vorticity were observed within the vortex core, which conformed to the characteristics of a vortex formation. The velocity profiles exhibited the proportionality of the velocity against the radius of the vortex, which categorized this as a forced vortex. The findings from the study will be utilized by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Malaysia to develop remedial measures for problems related to the formation of vortices in sump pumps

Basic needs in online learning during covid-19 : a Malaysian students’ survey

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged many nations economically and socially. This survey study involved Malaysian students in the tertiary level on their perspectives of online learning - their only possible method of learning throughout almost two-year of the lockdown. The online survey involved 1410 students in science, technology and engineering programmes throughout public and private universities in Malaysia. This study involves perceptions such as an increase in the level of difficulties in technical courses and compared with humanities course and students’ thoughts had they been in different scenarios. Some statistical tests on correlations of important parameters are performed. Despite a well-perceived success in online education, in a contrasting student perspective, there were many challenges faced by students from access to decent device and internet connection to a more mental-related issue such as their study environments. It is possible that the basic expectations in Maslow's hierarchy of needs model in online education are not met. More than 80% of students reported that technical-based courses such as computer programming or material science were harderin online learning. Again, more than 80% of students reported that it would be easier to understand the subject if they had a peer around. To stay current, universities will need to find ways to offer online education with a local blend to their current and prospective students