Recent research reveals a gap in determining the effect of problem-based learning (PBL) on students' critical thinking ability. Existing evidences from previous research have been equivocal to be deemed conclusive, especially in across multiple educational disciplines. This paper investigates the effect of PBL on students' critical thinking ability, as compared to conventional approach. The study employed an experimental pretest and posttest with control group design. The participants were 53 undergraduate students in electrical engineering course, who attended Electrical Technology Module (ET101) in their first semester. Participants completed the pretest and posttests of the translated version of the Cornell Critical Thinking Test Specimen set. The results suggested that students' critical thinking ability in the PBL group had not been significantly different from their counterparts in the conventional approach group. This paper further discusses the implication of problem-based learning in engineering education.
In Malaysia, there is a growing recognition for innovative teaching and learning methods, such as Problem Based Learning (PBL), in engineering education in order to develop competence graduates. This paper addresses the need on the PBL approaches that fits into Malaysian engineering education scene, in particular with respect to technical engineering education in polytechnics. This paper first reviews several international PBL models, and also several successful pilot projects that conducted in Malaysia. Then, the lessons learned are used as a reference to formulate a PBL model that may fit into the Malaysian polytechnic's education system. An exemplary model of PBL has been developed, which constitutes the key factors that determine the success of PBL implementation. This model is pending for experimentation to examine its effectiveness, in shaping strong technical skills, personal skills, and higher order thinking skills, amongst Malaysian technical graduates.
Previous attempt to seek substitute locally available raw materials for sunflower oil, an imported raw material for surface coating manufacture has remained a challenge. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of organic fertilizer on the growth capacity of castor shrub since its oil has been found to be a close substitute to sunflower oil. This effort will drive backward integration in order to ensure sustained supply chain as required by local content policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria that will lead to developing local initiative for innovative technology. Data was obtained by measuring the progressive lateral growth parameters of the castor seed plant namely; plant height, stem diameter, leaf width, leaf length, petiole length and petiole diameter until maturity. A standard statistical package Minitab version 16.0 program was used to generate various plots which graphically depict and summarize the data while descriptive statistics of the data was solved using SPSS version 16.0 Software. The result showed that fertilizer type employed affects growth and development rate differently. In particular, poultry manure was found to be the most potent. The results also showed that the seed, upon sowing, sprouts in 7 days, and grows to maturity in about 146 days. It also suggest a growth capacity of 81.53 cm/kg which imports that in every 1 kg of soil considered, there is likely going to be available 1.51g of nitrogen. It is believed that this threshold amount of nitrogen would provide seemly quantity of nutrient that would sustain the growth.
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