Essam Abo-Serie and Sedar TunaboyluEssam Abo-Serie and Sedar Tunaboylu

Mechatronics Engineering DepartmentMevlana University

Konya, Turkey

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Established 2010

First Graduation 2014First Graduation 2014

Outline

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- Motivation for this research - Motivation for this research

- Overview , active learnerOverview , active learner

- Changes in curriculum and reflections- Changes in curriculum and reflections

- Conclusions and remarks- Conclusions and remarks

- Engineering education challenges - Engineering education challenges

Effective learning

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Pass

ive learn

er

Pass

ive learn

er

Act

ive learn

er

Act

ive learn

er

Biggs, P., 2007. Teaching for Quality Learning at Universityhttp://www.uta.edu/english/pages/facultybestpractices.html

Current Challenges in Private Universities

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Bologna, YOK , MODEK

Low retention rate and lowStudent satisfactions

Culture and language barriers

Low fund for facilities

Curriculum

Student Expectations

International Students

Number of Students

Motivation to change

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We are not happy we need to be active learner

Student satisfaction Leads toLeads to

Low retention rateLaurie A. Schreiner (2009) Dr. Noel-Levitz, Inc. www.noellevitz.com

Where are the Skillful Engineers? Only theoretical

Reflection and Changes in Curriculum

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Curriculum

Student Expectations

Students needs Students needs

Industrial needs Industrial needs

Time for changeTime for change

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Graduate Quality

Successful Successful GraduateGraduate

Practicalskills

Social skills

Eng. subjects

Science

TTOTTO

I like science

Research points to be considered

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How many engineering students who their work needssolving differential equations?

How many engineering students who their work needstime management, team-up and personal skills

Is time to take an action?

(could be 80 %)

(could be 0.1 %)

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New Engineering Curriculum

Training and Practical SkillsTraining and

Practical SkillsEuropean& ABET

Accreditation

European& ABET

Accreditation

Social and Communication

Skills

Social and Communication

Skills

Graduate

- Team coursework- Group competitions- Project management- Presentation skills- Erasmus programs- Activity clubs

- Internship- Activity lab- Industrial software- Research projects- Real engineering projects

Comply withEuropean

accreditationrequirements

Curriculum Changes

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- Engineering Technology course ( new course)Engineering Technology course ( new course) series of projects carried out by teams of students

- Computer Aided Drawing (new course)Computer Aided Drawing (new course) IT skills, hands on activity 4 hours lab and 1 hour lecture

Following the feedback from students and industrial companies changes have been made to the curriculum to focus on students technical and personal skills.

- More activity led learning and simulation softwareMore activity led learning and simulation software more labs have been introduced to the new curriculum particularly physics and mechanics. Students encouraged to participate in solar car and robotics national competition

- Personal Development (new course)Personal Development (new course) Develop student personal skills

New Courses : Engineering Technology

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Machine workshopWelding Hydraulic pump assemblyComputer AssemblyComputer NetworkControl system simulationMicrocontroller PICElectric circuits Motors assemblyMechanical SystemsWebsite designAdvanced Excel

Lectures Lab Activities ( project based)

- Instructors are from industry

( 90 min/week) ( 4 hours/week- Group work)

- All fields of engineering

Assessment :

Student Performance 85 % 15% Written exam

Student engagement During Eng. Tech. Course lab

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Survey Results

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Physics Lab Activities

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Group Project ActivitiesGroup Project Activities

Aim : Aim :

Creativity, Creativity, EvaluationEvaluationSearching Searching Group workGroup workChallengesChallengescompetitivecompetitive

Student clubStudent clubto support to support new ideasnew ideas

Physics Support Unit

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In addition to the lab and activity physics support unit has been In addition to the lab and activity physics support unit has been made available to all students made available to all students

National Competition and Student Club Activities

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Team has been formed to design and build a solar car

New team will be formed to design and a robot to contribute to the national competition.

Student learning and Bloom’s Taxonomy

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Bloom’s Taxonomy Blooms (1956)

Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy (1990 ) by Lorin Anderson

Students do not have to be in their last years to analyze and evaluate a problem Asking students to create something lead to student’s satisfaction and enhancing their learning

Fourth year studentsFourth year students

Third year studentsThird year students

Second year studentsSecond year students

First year studentsFirst year students

Final Conclusions

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Based on students and industrial companies reflections in addition Based on students and industrial companies reflections in addition to the existing theories and previous studies in higher education, to the existing theories and previous studies in higher education, the following changes have been made:the following changes have been made:

- Curriculum has been changed by including more labs Curriculum has been changed by including more labs and activitiesand activities

- Some courses has been added to the curriculum to contribute inSome courses has been added to the curriculum to contribute in developing student technical and personal skillsdeveloping student technical and personal skills

- Students are encouraged to contribute to national andStudents are encouraged to contribute to national and international competitioninternational competition

- It is advisable for instructors to attend different workshop It is advisable for instructors to attend different workshop about the learning process and how to have an active learnerabout the learning process and how to have an active learner

None of mechatronics students left and two students from other Universities joined our department.