Project Objectives

The project is a major curriculum reorientation designed to better nurture the professional learning outcomes important to engineers in contemporary society. The objectives include:

• introduce small group teaching in the foundation mathematics courses in Year 1;
• introduce a Professional Engineering Training Module comprising a number of selected courses to strengthen the basic practical skills needed by engineers; and
• report on multi-media materials used to enhance teaching and learning in a range of courses.

Description of process and deliverables

The project documented the planning and assessment of small group teaching of mathematics and the selected Module courses for the two years duration. Designs and findings of the various assessment methods (questionnaire, focus group interviews, online surveys, etc) are presented. Comparison between students undergoing small group teaching in the year 2006-07 and 2007-08 are also included, as well as suggestions and implications on the further refinement of on-going efforts.

Evaluation of outcomes

The project findings indicated that introduction of small group mathematics teaching has had a major impact. Though students’ ability to master the mathematical concepts was improved only somewhat, the most obvious advantage was that students’ overall studying attitudes, such as self-managed learning, and critical and creative thinking, were greatly enhanced. There was also a better relationship between teachers and students. This result was perhaps more important to student’s future learning abilities. More encouragingly, the 2007-08 data showed a continual improvement over the 2006-07 data. Components of the Professional Engineering Training Module have been successful. In each case, the evaluation has led to identified potential improvements.

Dissemination of results & deliverables

Besides the Final report, which detailed the project process and deliverables, the Department has submitted relevant documents to share with the Faculty our experience gained in the process. This provides a reference to other engineering programmes for their future planning and decisions.