Influence of problem-based learning strategy on enhancing student’s industrial oriented competences learned: an action research on learning weblog analysis

Pansy Chung,Yi-Cheng Chen,Ron Chuen Yeh

doi:10.1007/s10798-015-9306-3

Abstract

In order to respond to the ever-changing global economic environment, the technological and vocational education system in Taiwan needs to be dramatically reformed to the changing needs of the domestic industrial structure. Integrating practical talents with practical industrial experiences and competences can help avoid discrepancy and close the gap between vocational education and the practical demands of industries. Thus, to achieve the goals of technological and vocational education, it is necessary to incorporate instruction that meets the demands of the industrial-oriented manpower in Taiwan. In this study, the well-known problem-based learning (PBL) approach, utilized commonly in the educational area of medicine and business management, was integrated with the qualitative method of action research to explore how such a learning strategy could influence college students’ learning outcomes regarding industrial-oriented competences. The research results were induced from the empirical data collected via participatory classroom observations, and analyses of teachers’ instructional journals and semi-structural interviews. A survey with quasi-experimental design of the control group pretest and posttest was conducted by using an industrial-oriented competences scale to explore the influences of PBL on students’ learning outcomes of industrial-oriented competences. The findings are expected to shed light on the teaching and learning strategy of college students’ industrial-oriented competences and contribute to theoretical implications and future educational and industrial development of Taiwan.

Highlights

After the international financial crisis of 2007–2008, countries and institutions had to respond to the unstable global economic environment
In order to respond to the ever-changing global economic environment, the technological and vocational education system in Taiwan needs to be dramatically reformed to the changing needs of the domestic industrial structure
Hallinger and Bridges (2010) applied Problem-based learning (PBL) to management education and students’ learning outcomes were observed to be better than those with ordinary learning approaches. This action-study investigates the influence of applying PBL strategy in practical monograph teaching, to the competences learned by students in business majors

Summary

Introduction

After the international financial crisis of 2007–2008, countries and institutions had to respond to the unstable global economic environment. A Federal Committee on apprentice training was created by the US President in 1934 and the Committee recommended certain standards to be used as guides by employers and employees for establishing standards in a specified trade These provided the concept of school education should meet the industry need. Mager (1962) provided background details on competences and competency based education, and influenced school systems for decades and continues to shape the vast majority of corporate training programs developed today. These historical developments helped to establish industrial competence standards as suggested by a psychologist from Harvard University (McClelland 1973). It is important to note that the term varies among different

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Conclusion