25-01-2013, 02:27 PM
USING PBL APPROACH TO CONDUCT PROJECT COURSE IN POLYTECHNIC OF PORT DICKSON, MALAYSIA
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Abstract.
Methods and approaches of teaching and learning can develop creative and innovative potential, the
development of mind, creative thinking and innovative students, and it should be practiced by all teaching staff at present.
Teaching approach should also be interesting, friendly, approachable, and fun, free from stress and anxiety, as well as able
to shape the learning development and enhance the positive achievements of the students in learning. Problem-Based
Learning (PBL) is an approach in the context of student-centered learning (SCL), in which cooperation among students is
the key success of this learning method. PBL has a very effective impact as a driver for students to explore the knowledge
that they have owned and to develop the learning skills to solve problems. The students would be more confident, able to
communicate, share information and have the initiatives to find the desired information. More importantly, this learning
method can engage students actively in the learning process. This paper will discuss how PBL method can be used in
project course to make teaching and learning environment more creative and innovative with help of CIDOS (Curriculum
Information Documents Online System). A pilot project with the PBL approach and traditional method has been
implemented in the course of the project which involved three different classes. The end result showed that the PBL
approach has helped students to score higher percentage in their final project compared to traditional method.
Introduction
In today’s context, a change in the process of teaching and learning in a more creative and innovative way
is greatly needed. Lecturers should liberate themselves from conventional way of thinking that has been holding
them back in terms of the lesson delivery techniques. Department of Polytechnic Studies has drawn out a few
initiatives to make polytechnic as an alternative route to succeed the New Economic Model in line with the
National Higher Learning Strategic Plan [1]. One of the strategies to make improvement in teaching and learning
is through Migration Project from Traditional Education to Outcome-Based Education (OBE).
Problem Based Learning (PBL) is one of the approaches in the context of OBE learning, where cooperation
between students is the key to success of this learning. More important, this learning approach engages the
students actively in the learning process besides encouraging them to explore their existing knowledge which
will be further enhanced and create the ability to solve problems that they faced.This research paper explains
how PBL is used as a migration agent from traditional education to innovative education in teaching the course
of Project at Electrical Engineering Department at Polytechnic of Port Dickson in Malaysia.
Fundamental Concept of Outcome-Based Education (OBE)
The OBE emphasizes on the learning outcome that focuses on what we want the students to learn, why
we want them to learn it, how could we do it best in assisting the student to learn it and how are we going to
evaluate on what they have learnt [4]. In other words, OBE curriculum emphasizes on what the student is
capable of doing and those achievements could be measured systematically after going through a program or
course of study. In order to implement this approach, Problem-Based Learning (PBL) will be used to achieve
Outcome- Based Education (OBE).
Problem- Based Learning (PBL)
PBL is a learning method that trains the student to learn something through a problem and subsequently
use the skills and experience in overcoming problems that would arise in daily life. PBL would train the student
to be more responsible and active during the learning process. The PBL approach also gives significant effect as
an encouraging agent to the student in exploring their existing knowledge which can later expand the learning
competence for overcoming the problems faced. This learning approach could engage the student actively in the
learning process.Based on Barrows’ theory [5], in general, the characteristics of PBL are such as studentcentered
learning, students are responsible for their own learning, the learner is always motivated in finding a
solution, the student cooperate in the process of solving a problem, whereas the lecturer would take up the role
of facilitator and assist the student in making the right decision.
Introduction to CIDOS
CIDOS or Curriculum Information Document Online System [6] is known as academic management
system based on the Moodle platform which was developed for online teaching and learning by the Curriculum
Development and Evaluation Division, Department of Polytechnic Studies for the lecturers to use. The registered
user can download and share information, organise forum, evaluate and give feedback related to academic
process when he or she uses CIDOS.
Discussion and Conclusion
Problem- Based Learning (PBL) that was carried out for this group of students could create an
interesting and realistic learning environment. The outcomes of the project created by the students
undergoing project based on PBL approach can be described as having more creative and innovative
characteristics as compared to the previous projects. The result of discussion between group members and
project’s problem solving activities during the presentation could give confidence to the students in
producing a more creative and innovative project by this group. The facilitator’s absence once in a while
(official purpose) would not disrupt the implementation of the project because students could contact and
obtain information through forum when they are faced with problems and use the URL links provided in
CIDOS to search for information especially those relevant to their project. PBL gives positive effect as an
encouraging agent for the students to explore knowledge that they already owned and expand it’s
capabilities in learning to solve problems that they face using the knowledge [8]. More important this
learning method would be able to engage the learners actively in the learning process.