Problem-based learning in facilities planning: a pilot implementation

In Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Problem Based Learning (PBL) is proposed as an alternative to lectures in moulding engineering graduates to acquire attributes that are required to excel in today’s k-economy. To investigate if PBL is viable for undergraduates in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, a pilot implementation of PBL in Facilities Planning, a subject required for final year Mechanical Engineering undergraduates with specialization in Industrial Engineering was executed. With 60 students in the class, the whole syllabus of the subject was covered using three main PBL problems. PBL was conducted with the help of industrial partners: a semiconductor company, and a furniture factory. The outcome of the implementation was highly encouraging. Students were able to illustrate good understanding of the content, while progressively exhibiting maturity in their generic skills, such as communication, team-working, self-directed learning and problem-solving. However, several aspects of the execution can be further improved

Enhancing learning through cooperative learning: UTM experience

Lecture-based classes are the predominant teaching method in all levels of education. This teaching style, undoubtedly is able to deliver knowledge to students and produce graduates. However, this teaching technique is usually unable to invoke higher level of cognitive skills. With an ever-growing volume of knowledge that must be covered in engineering education, an alternative technique must be used to enhance learning. Co-operative learning is a proven teaching technique that is able to enhance students’ learning through active learning. This technique has been widely accepted in engineering education in the United States, Europe, United Kingdom and Australia. In UTM, lecturers from different faculties of engineering implement cooperative learning in their classes. The main aim is to induce better retention, in-depth understanding and mastery of knowledge among students. This paper shows how cooperative learning successfully enhance students' learning by looking at the performance of their grades in different engineering classes

A review and survey of Problem-Based Learning application in Engineering Education

This paper gives a review of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) applied in engineering courses worldwide, and a survey of academic staff who have implemented PBL in engineering classes in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The review of PBL application illustrates the extent of acceptance and success of PBL in schools of engineering in the international arena. The survey, on the other hand, illustrates the acceptance of PBL among engineering lecturers and the possibility of applying PBL in Malaysia. The main purpose of the survey is to obtain feedback on PBL regarding the impressions, set-backs and constraints faced, as well as innovations and tips for successful implementation from the faculty members involved

Supply Chain Resilience Among SMEs Manufacturer in Malaysia- A Survey

According to the 2018 report from Business Continuity Institute, supply chain disruption was listed as one of the top ten threats. There was a tremendous growth in academic research papers on harnessing resilience to face this growing business threat. The number of insolvent companies in Malaysia had increased 1,203% year-on-year from 2754 in the year of 2016 to 38093 in 2017 which is extremely worrying. This paper presents the familiarity of supply chain resilience among SMEs manufacturers in Malaysia including their recovery speed in their past experience in facing financial crisis and potential barriers they might face when creating supply chain resilience and lastly a list of performance measures for their “financial survival bag” was suggested. 800 questionnaires were distributed to SMEs manufacturers in Malaysia and 280 respondents’ responded to the survey. Majority of the respondents are directors/CEOs/owners/ financial decision makers. More than half of the SMEs manufacturers in Malaysia are familiar with resilient supply chain management. However, more than half of them have only a limited understanding and are unclear about the action to be taken to respond to disruption. In a nut shell, majority of the SMEs manufacturers in Malaysia have not implemented resilient supply chain management. Furthermore, there is a need to research on their business longevity and ensure their long term survivability in Malaysia

Comparison of two algorithms for production layout improvement-the application

The objective of RAFSS were to promote research cooperation between scientists, mathematicians and technologist, to encourage discussion of current results and disseminate the latest finding in fundamental research. Academicians, scientists, engineers in fundamental sciences were invited to attend and participate in this annual event

Effective strategies for integrating e-learning in problem-based learning for engineering and technical education

E-learning, through any Learning Management Systems (LMS), can be used to enhance and aid the implementation ofproblem-based learning (PBL). In UTM, an open-source LMS, Moodle, is being used. Through e-learning, learningcan take place anywhere and anytime through the communicationtools that it has. This feature provides a channel ofcommunication among students and lecturers that is not bounded by the class time and physical presence. Therefore, e-learning has been identified as a learning system that can greatly enhance the implementation of PBL among universitystudents. The purpose of this paper is to put forth effective strategies for utilizing e-learning in PBL for engineering andtechnical education. Some effective strategies that have been identified are:(1) the use of online assignment tool todeliver PBL problems to students, (2) the use of bothsynchronous communication tools (such as chatting) andasynchronous communications tools (suchas forum and journal) for discussionand assessment, (3) lecturer-initiatedcommunication for the PBL case on the e-learning platform, (4) frequent availability of lecturers online for facilitation,and (5) the use of online journal for reflection and assessment.These strategies enable a more efficient and effectiveimplementation of PBL

Promoting problem-based learning in engineering courses at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

In this paper, the authors describe efforts in promoting the implementation of problem-based learning (PBL) in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru, Malaysia, which is essentially the groundwork phase of the university-wide PBL project. The move to train a core-group of lecturers to implement PBL was initiated in 2002. The litmus test on the effectiveness and the possible applicability of PBL in engineering courses at UTM was conducted in the 2003/04-1 semester in Process Control and Dynamics, a required subject for fourth year students in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering. The outcome of the pilot implementation was highly successful, that the department allowed PBL to be implemented in other classes. This also encouraged other faculties to promote PBL implementations. Since then, there have been several implementations in the Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the Faculty of Civil Engineering

Effective strategies for integrating e-learning in problem-based learning for engineering and technical education

E-learning, through any Learning Management Systems (LMS), can be used to enhance and aid the implementation of problem-based learning (PBL). In UTM, an open-source LMS, Moodle, is being used. Through e-learning, learning can take place anywhere and anytime through the communication tools that it has. This feature provides a channel of communication among students and lecturers that is not bounded by the class time and physical presence. Therefore, e-learning has been identified as a learning system that can greatly enhance the implementation of PBL among university students. The purpose of this paper is to put forth effective strategies for utilizing e-learning in PBL for engineering and technical education. Some effective strategies that have been identified are: (1) the use of online assignment tool to deliver PBL problems to students, (2) the use of both synchronous communication tools (such as chatting) and asynchronous communications tools (such as forum and journal) for discussion and assessment, (3) lecturer-initiated communication for the PBL case on the e-learning platform, (4) frequent availability of lecturers online for facilitation, and (5) the use of online journal for reflection and assessment. These strategies enable a more efficient and effective implementation of PBL

Crafting effective engineering problems for problem-based learning: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia experiences

In Problem-Based Learning (PBL), complex, real-world and ill-structured problems are used to motivate students to identify and research the concepts and principles they need to work through those problems. It is the key point to implement a successful PBL instruction. However, crafting a good PBL problem is a challenge for instructors in most disciplines including engineering. Typical problems do not foster the development of effective problem-solving and analytical skills nor do they challenge students to develop critical thinking skills and logical reasoning. With the exception of a few disciplines, good PBL problems usually do not appear in textbooks. As a consequence, an instructor needs to create or find problems, modify textbook problems, or write new problems that address the course objectives and learning outcomes. Crafting quality problems are very important for the full benefits of PBL to be realized. Due to instructors’ own learning in the traditional education curriculum, most instructors tend to craft problem based on their subject expertise. This violates the multi-disciplinary richness that PBL advocates. Being able to craft quality and good problem becomes a critical skill for instructors in PBL. This paper aims to describe how to craft effective engineering problems for PBL based on our experiences implementing PBL in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia