Abstract
The final year project is a crucial component of engineering undergraduate education that is made a compulsory requirement by engineering accreditation bodies worldwide. This paper documents an approach toward the final year engineering project that is consistent with an outcome-based education methodology as required by accreditation bodies but also incorporates the development of a desirable range of graduate capabilities through its unique approach. The method, implementation, measurement of outcomes, and survey findings on the students taking this module are presented in this paper. For the measurement of outcomes, both qualitative and quantitative approaches were utilized. The quantitative approach consisted of using a Likert scale online survey as well as a software tool to capture the marks from various assessment components of the module to use as a comparison. The software tool links these assessment components to the module learning outcomes and the learning domains of Bloom’s taxonomy. The marks attained were considered to be reflective of the attainment of the outcomes. The qualitative approach utilized a written survey that is part of the online survey. This online survey focused on student perceptions assessed through the Likert scale and written feedback instead of marks. The data obtained from both approaches were analyzed and compared, and the final year project module is evaluated for its effectiveness in delivering holistic education. These different approaches substantiated the findings of one another and helped determine to what extent the holistic education outcomes were achieved.
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Appendix: Survey Questions
Appendix: Survey Questions
1.1 Cognitive Learning Domain: The Head
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Having completed FYP recently, please answer the following questions.
1 – strongly disagree | 2 – disagree | 3 – neither agree nor disagree |
4 – agree | 5 – strongly agree |
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C1. Do you think that you are better equipped and more confident of your ability to examine a problem in detail in order to explain or interpret it? (Analysis)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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C2. Do you think that you are better equipped and more confident of your ability to judge the quality of different ideas? (Evaluation)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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C3. Do you think that you are better equipped and more confident of your ability to plan a solution to a complex challenge after having analyzed and evaluated it? (Synthesis – formulation)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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Please comment on your progress made in the areas above as a result of having completed the FYP.
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If you think that the FYP did not help you make any progress in the areas above, please comment.
1.2 Affective Learning Domain: The Heart
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A1. Do you feel better equipped and more confident of your ability to secure the cooperation of others in order to get things done?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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A2. Do you feel that you have made progress in your self-discipline when managing challenging time constraints?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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A3. Do you feel more personally committed to the ethical standards required of a person tasked with carrying out a research project?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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A4. Do you feel that the experience has helped you grow in your ability to manage your emotions better when faced with stressful situations?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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A5. Do you feel that the experience has helped you become more aware of your own strengths and weaknesses?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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A6. Do you feel that your ability to communicate your thoughts and emotions clearly to others has improved?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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A7. Do you feel more confident of your ability to be self-reliant?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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Please comment on your progress made in the areas above as a result of having completed the FYP.
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If you feel that the FYP did not help you make any progress in the areas above, please comment.
1.3 Psychomotor Learning Domain: The Hands
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P1. Do you feel that you have gained proficiency in any one of the following skills – conducting experiments, using lab equipment, using FYP-related software, or fabricating an experimental device?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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P2. Continuing from the previous question, do you feel confident enough to apply this skill in a real-life situation?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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P3. Continuing from the previous question, do you feel confident enough to train others in this skill in a real-life situation?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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Please comment on your progress made in the areas above as a result of having completed the FYP.
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If you think that the FYP did not help you make any progress in the areas above, please comment.
1.4 Overall Progress
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O1. Do you believe that you are better equipped and more confident of your ability to solve engineering challenges having completed the FYP than before you started the FYP?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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Please comment on your ability to solve engineering challenges as a result of having completed the FYP compared to before you started FYP.
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If you think that the FYP did not help you make any progress in this area, please comment.
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Tien, D.T.K., Gamboa, R.A., Namasivayam, S.N. (2015). Final Year Engineering Project and Its Contribution to Holistic Education. In: Tang, S., Logonnathan, L. (eds) Taylor’s 7th Teaching and Learning Conference 2014 Proceedings. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-399-6_51
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-399-6_51
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