Using Computer Technology Tools to Improve the Teaching-Learning Process in Technical and Vocational Education: Mechanical Engineering Subject Area

This paper discusses the integration of computer assisted instructions (CAI) with traditional class room teaching. It describes a teaching method to bring real-world of industrial work into the classroom that underscores the need to learn fundamental principles while adding excitement and relevance to the experience. This paper presents results of a case study undertaken to understand the effect of computer assisted teaching methodology on learning effectiveness in classroom environment. The effects of computer assisted instructions on different levels of cognition of individual learners have also been evaluated. The computer aided drawing (CAD), computer aided manufacturing (CAM) and computer numerical control (CNC) courses at the Bahrain institute are an integral part of this attempt. These courses emphasize the development of a 3-D geometric computer model and application of this digital database to all phases of the design process. The students make freehand sketches, build computer models, mate assemblies of parts, perform various analysis, create kinematics simulations, generate final design drawings, import engineering drawing as DXF file, generate NC file to build rapid prototypes as shown in the table 1 below. Keywords: Computer Technology, C.N.C and AutoCad Softwar

The Effect of Using Computer Technology Tools to Enhance the Teaching-Learning Process in CAD-CAM-CNC Module in Mechanical Engineering Subject Area

This study presents the evaluation of Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) package included in the teaching and learning methodology of computer aided design- computer aided design - computer numerical control (CAD-CAM-CNC) module. Three groups of students with similar pre-abilities were exposed to three different teaching learning methodologies.The effectiveness of these three methods was determined by questionnaires completed by the students and collected by first author. Their answers were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The various categories used in the questionnaire was student’s attitudes towards learning CAD-CAM-CNC subjects, students’ opinions about their lecturers approaches to teaching process, students’ opinions and views about various aspects the CAD-CAM-CNC. The study concludes that the students taught with a combination of CAL package and traditional methods were more effective, efficient and satisfied with their learning experiences. So the proposed hybrid learning method (CAI plus traditional teaching method) is most suited for CAD-CAM-CNC teaching. Computer Technology; Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI); Computer Assisted Learning (CAL); Computer Aided Design (CAD); Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM); Computer Numerical Control (CNC)

Teachers’ Attitude towards Integration of Computer Assisted Instructions in Teaching and Learning Process in CAD/CAM/CNC Module

The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of teachers’ attitudes, effectiveness of various teaching methods employed as well as teachers’ perceptions of the teaching experience on effectiveness of teaching-learning processes in computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing and computer numerical control (CAD/CAM/CNC) module used in vocational education department in Bahrain. Previous studies suggested that a part of the problem in CAD/CAM/CNC subject area is the use of inappropriate teaching methods which affect students’ achievements negatively. It has been suggested that negative teaching practices for example, teaching without visual effects, lack of interaction in the class and lack of motivational tool may affect students’ achievement. A questionnaire has been developed to understand teacher’s experience of the teaching learning process. The questions have been designed under the five categories. These categories are organisation, presentation, class room management, assessment process and teachers’ perception of teaching methods used. These categories have been designed to help make the interpretation and explanation of the responses easier

Computer Assisted Laboratory Instructions: Learning Outcomes Analysis

For this students in mechanical engineering subject area were exposed to computer assisted instructions to satisfy following learning outcomes in computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing module. i- Creation of drawing and design using Computer aided design ii- Using data exchange format (DXF) to create numerical control file iii- Final setup check of computerised numerical control machine iv- Final manufacturing of the product using CNC v- e ytilauQ valuation The teaching and learning methodology consisted of a teacher delivering a lecture on the basics of the operation and then explaining entire operation with the help of a software coupled to the CNC machine. This enabled students to carry out repeated tests on the software till they felt confident in carrying out the above operations. At the end all students were examined for knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. A typical flow chart explaining the above operations is shown below. The results indicated that computer assisted instructions help students achieve learning out comes at all levels of cognitive domains. A correlation was seen between the pre test ability of students and the levels of cognition most affected. High pre test ability students gained both in high and low levels of cognition where as low ability students gained primarily in low levels of cognition namely knowledge acquisition and routine application

Improving Teaching and Learning Effectiveness in Engineering Education

This paper presents the results from a study undertaken to improve the teaching and learning effectiveness in engineering education courses, specifically for Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) system in Bahrain. A teaching and learning assessment tool was developed for participants (existing TVE teachers in electrical and electronic engineering and a pilot group of TVE students). The purpose was to examine the existing approaches of teaching and learning practised in TVE educational environment as well as learning styles preferred by TVE students. The results confirmed that TVE teachers applied limited methods of teaching and learning. However, TVE students had widely varying learning preferences, as they are more motivated by using the experiential learning approach. The experiential learning model allowed students to make their own learning choices and relate what they were learning to the real-work applications (using diagrams, hyperlinked text, video, pictures, interactive examples, virtual reality simulations, and animations). Based on the drawn conclusions, a teaching and learning guideline for engineering education was originated specifically for the needs of the TVE system in Bahrain. The guideline is a potential tool for structuring and improving engineering learning courses in TVE. The guideline will also help in meeting modern industrial requirements by equipping students with better skills, abilities and attitude

Teachers’ and Students' Attitudes Towards Traditional and Computer Assisted Blended Teaching and Learning Processes in Mechanical Engineering Subjects Area

The effectiveness of traditional teaching-learning process in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing CAM and Computer Numerical control CNC (CAD-CAM-CNC) module has been evaluated against recently developed two blended teaching learning models. The blended learning systems have been developed by integrating computer assisted instructions with the traditional teaching learning system. This study in particular reports teachers’ and students’ views about various facets of teaching and learning process under different modes. It has been see that blended learning modes find better acceptance amongst teachers and students as co mpared to traditional teaching mode

Learning and Teaching Mechanical Engineering Courses with Blended Learning Environment - Higher Order Application of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Mechanical Engineering students who learn how to design and analyse usually experience complex and /or abstract aspects that they may not be able to fully understand without additional tutorial lessons or further explanations. For example, to learn construction of manufacturing, at Higher Order of Cognitive Skills (HOCS) of Bloom’s Taxonomy, students need to visualize materials and sequences of construction process. This paper presents the development and implementation of a computer tutoring software, this method of teaching, named ‘learning with blended environment’, is designed to assist students in thoroughly understanding and effectively mastering teaching material. The tutoring software was used to teach mechanical engineering course at Sheikh Khalifa Institute of Technology in Bahrain. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the tutoring tool is also discussed

Effectiveness of Parallel and Serial Integration of Teaching Resources in Laboratory Teaching in Engineering Education

Recent advances in the development of 'electronic teaching support systems' make it more attractive to embrace such emerging technology in the conventional teaching programme. Mechanical Engineering subject areas require extensive laboratory activities where teaching and the resources available need to be used optimally to produce engineers with the right skills and knowledge. It is for this reason that attempts are being made throughout the World to include electronic support into the laboratory environment to make learning more effective. This paper undertakes a study to compare two different methods of integrating electronic resources into the conventional laboratory teaching in engineering education and describes the learning experience of two groups of students using each system. Two groups of students were carefully selected to ensure they had the same learning abilities (similar average marks and standard deviations) and each was asked to learn an engraving operation using a CNC machine. The resources available were a facilitator, computer simulation software and the CNC machine. Each group was asked to approach the learning tasks differently. The first group of students (Group 1) were asked to learn the engraving operation using a computer simulation of the engraving operation and were encouraged to carry out actual exercise on a CNC machine in parallel with the simulation. The role of the facilitator was to explain various operations on the simulation software as well as help students on actual machines. The second group of students (Group 2) were exposed to the simulation in a classroom environment which was followed by the entire procedure being explained by the facilitator on a CNC machine within the laboratory environment. The learning experience in this case was sequential in that the learning resources were used in series for the 'Group 2' students. Evaluation tests were used to measure the performance of each group after the exercise. It was apparent from the evaluation reports that the group experiencing the parallel provision of resources achieved a better overall learning rate than the sequential or series group. It is felt this may be answered in two ways: The group receiving parallel input of information had an instant means of self evaluation of progress by comparing performance to the simulation whereas the sequential group had no reference or benchmark. The second reason could be the break in concentration and the 'loss factor' in the transfer of 'classroom knowledge' to the laboratory. Even a short break, or minimum distraction, is sufficient to disrupt the level of concentration and so in-depth learning and memory retention is hampered. Keywords: Computer Technology, Milling C.N.C Machine, Auto Cad Software, C.N.C Progra

Effect of integration of computer simulations in traditional teaching methodology

This paper investigates the effect of the integration of computer simulations in the traditional teaching methodology on learning effectiveness of a group of students having significant variation in marks obtained in pre-learning examination. For comparison another group of students having a relatively low distribution in marks have also been examined for their learning effectiveness when traditional teaching methodology is used. This study in the subject area of mechanical engineering (Computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing /computerized numerical control machines) shows that the average marks obtained by the group taught using computer assisted instructions in various evaluation categories are significantly higher with fairly low standard deviation as compared to the marks obtained by the group taught using traditional teaching method. Keywords: Computer technolog

Effectiveness of Computer Assisted Laboratory Instructions:Learning Outcomes Analysis

This study investigates the impact of computer assisted instructions on learning effectiveness in computer aided design and manufacturing modules which are integral to mechanical engineering related courses. These courses require learners to understand and know the basics of design and manufacturing processes as well as use specialist software and CNC machines. Use of computer assisted instructions enables learner to grasp complex information in an easier way because of the embedded visual element in such instructions. To quantify the effect of integration of computers in traditional teaching three groups of students were exposed to different teaching methodologies as given below. 1.Traditional classroom lecturing and laboratory work in classroom. 2.Traditional teaching with supervised exposure to available computer simulation. 3.Traditional teaching with un-supervised exposure to available computer simulation. At the end of teaching learning process these students has been evaluated for their proficiency in CAD/CAM/CNC applications. The learning outcomes the students have been measured using blooms taxonomy in knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation cognition levels. The analysis of the data indicates that groups exposed to computer assisted instructions performed better than the group taught using traditional teaching method. Further supervised exposure to computer simulations gave better results as compared to unsupervised exposure to computers. Keywords: Computer Technology, Numerical Control Machine, Computer Aided Drawing, Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM/CNC