Engineering Lecturers Research Articles

E-Textbooks as a Teaching Aid at a University of Technology in South Africa: A Cultural-Historical Activity Theory Analysis

The past two years saw a rapid proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in higher education. Digital technologies and environments offer many affordances. New digital literacy practices in universities have implications for teaching and learning. E-textbooks, in particular, act as mediating tools that can facilitate teaching and learning through developing students’ understandings of scientific concepts. This paper positions e-textbooks as mediators of learning, rather than merely objects of learning. There is thus a need to understand the mediating role of e-textbooks that lecturers draw on in their teaching. While much research was conducted on students’ use of e-textbooks, relatively little was conducted on lecturers’ use of e-textbooks in engineering education. The current study aimed to answer the following research question: What are lecturers’ perspectives on the use of e-textbooks to facilitate learning in engineering? To address this question, data were collected through five individual interviews conducted with engineering lecturers working in the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) of first-year students from three engineering departments (chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and nautical science) at a university of technology in South Africa. The data were analysed using thematic content analysis with the help of ATLAS.ti. Data analysis was guided by a theoretical framework that drew on the cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT). In this study, the focus was on e-textbooks as pedagogical tools within engineering teaching and learning. The findings provide insight into how lecturers incorporate e-textbooks into their teaching, but also reveal the extent to which new digital literacy reading practices remain unfamiliar to engineering lecturers. CHAT enabled the identification of a critical insight, namely, the tension between mediation and division of labour. This highlights important aspects of the discourse surrounding seamless technology integration in higher education. The discussion points to the need for an expansive transformation regarding the use of e-textbooks as important mediating tools for teaching and learning.

Revitalizing Electrochemical Science and Engineering Education to Create a Clean Energy Workforce

Electrochemical science, engineering, and technology education and workforce development are central to the ongoing clean energy transition. In particular, I will highlight battery, hydrogen, and microelectronics industries as drivers. I then highlight a unique Electrochemistry-Technology-focused Graduate program launched through the Oregon Center for Electrochemistry in 2020. At the master’s level, the accelerated program consists of six core electrochemistry science and engineering lecture, laboratory, and project-based courses over either two or three academic quarters. In addition to core electrochemistry knowledge spanning thermodynamics, transport, kinetics, and device technology, emphasis is placed on problem solving, data analysis, programming (particularly in Python) and professional development and this additional content is embedded throughout all the core lecture and laboratory courses. Students are also introduced to continuum-level electrochemical simulations, with an emphasis on understanding the effects of boundary conditions on the simulation output. They also complete a team-based applied project sponsored by industry partners. The program ends with a nine-month paid internship leading to a master’s degree and career in the electrochemistry industry after 15 months.The coursework is also open to PhD students and postdoctoral scholars who go on to serve as near peer mentors and teaching assistants in the program in future years, directly synergistic with their research, and building community around electrochemistry. A new BS-MS program leveraging the above has launched in 2023, allowing University of Oregon students to complete coursework for both BS and MS in just four years yielding an incredibly high return on tuition and time investment in terms of career potential and earnings. Key to the success of the programs is very low administrative overhead with technical faculty/staff leading all efforts and a transparent budget model to fund the program based on tuition return.

Introducing project-based learning steps to the preschool teachers in Bandung, Indonesia

The Merdeka Belajar curriculum is the current curriculum developed by Indonesian Ministry of Education which should be implemented thoroughly in 2024. Project-based learning is identically engaged with this curriculum which offers many advantages to enrich the quality of education. This has been promoted and already implemented in several schools across the region in Indonesia, yet many teachers are still finding it was difficult to be applied. This research explores the project-based learning steps for preschool teachers in Bandung using community service program by Industrial Engineering lecturers in Indonesia. There were 42 participants from different kindergarten schools who joined in the PJBL workshop. With an active learning workshop delivery, a significant result has been achieved that it could increase their understanding of PJBL concept. “A Healthy House” project was taken as the example of the topic in the workshop. To check the participant’s understanding of the PjbL steps, the questionnaire was distributed two times, before and after the workshop ended. Using t test, the workshop of PJBL has significantly impacted the teachers. They were able to understand the principles of PjBL and the steps of the methods.

Pelatihan Singkat Servis Motor Bagi Siswa SMA Islam As Saadah Setu Tangerang Selatan

Motorized vehicles, especially motorbikes, have now become daily necessities, no longer classified as luxury goods. Due to the high level of need, almost every family has one motorbike, maybe even more than one. Motor vehicles are simple forms of transportation, can be driven in residential areas, both urban and rural, and the operational costs are relatively affordable for most groups. Current developments in motorbike design allow riders from young to old. Data shows that demand and use of motorbikes continues to increase. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), in 2022 the number of vehicles in Indonesia will reach 148,212,865. The number of private vehicles in Indonesia is still dominated by motorbikes with a figure of 125,267,349 units (almost 85% of which are dominated by motorbikes). With the rapid increase in the number of motorized vehicles, many workshops and repairs have emerged, both large and small, official and unofficial workshops. The problems that arise are due to busyness, laziness or lack of knowledge and skills, so motorbike servicing is carried out at a repair shop. Especially for young people and students, who only like riding motorbikes, don't care about the condition of the motorbike, and don't learn how to service it even to repair minor damage. This will benefit the workshop. In fact, you should be able to save money if you can repair it yourself. It can even be detrimental if it is serviced by an irresponsible illegal workshop. From the results of surveys and observations at the Assa'adah Islamic Boarding School, South Tangerang, almost all students are unable to service their motorbikes themselves. Therefore, the team of Mechanical Engineering Lecturers at Pamulang University offers motorbike service training for students with the aim of giving them knowledge and skills in servicing motorbikes. Armed with this knowledge and skills, it is hoped that motorbike maintenance and if damage occurs, you can do it yourself, you don't need to take it to a repair shop. At least with this knowledge and skills, you can save financial expenses, and even the knowledge and skills obtained can become provisions for opening a motorbike service business in the future. The training offered is packaged in the form of Community Service (PKM) as one of the elements of the Tridharma of Higher Education. A short training method will be given in theory about motorbike service and maintenance, and practical motorbike service and maintenance will be carried out.

The Sub-Criteria for Evacuation-Based Pedestrian Route Design Parameters

Indonesia, surrounded by three major tectonic plates—the Indo-Australian plate, the Pacific plate, and the Eurasian plate—faces a relatively high disaster risk. The city of Padang in West Sumatra, located on the western side of Sumatra Island and in proximity to tectonic plates, is particularly susceptible to earthquakes and tsunamis. To mitigate disaster risk, Padang requires evacuation-focused road infrastructure, including pedestrian paths. This study aims to assess the validity of sub-criteria parameters for creating pedestrian evacuation routes in Padang. It employs quantitative descriptive research methods, utilizing Aiken's V and Cronbach Alpha. The study involved distributing validation forms to five experts, comprising two Civil Engineering lecturers and three members of Padang City's BPBD (Regional Disaster Management Agency) specializing in Planning and Preparedness. The participants' responses, recorded through the forms, served as data for analyzing and identifying sub-criteria for evacuation-oriented pedestrian route design parameters. The study's findings reveal that one sub-criteria—Safety Fence from the Amenities parameter with a value of V = 0.7—is invalid.

Digital Skills Competencies Required by Electrical Engineering Lecturers for Effective Utilization of Open Educational Resources in Polytechnics in Northeast Nigeria

The study determined the digital skills competencies required by Electrical Engineering Lecturers for effective utilization of Open Educational Resources in Polytechnics in Northeast Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study which survey research design was adopted. The study population comprised 186 individuals, consisting of 151 Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology Lecturers and 35 ICT unit heads from across 12 Polytechnics in North East Nigeria. Due to the manageable size of the population, no sampling was conducted; instead, the entire population was included in the study. Data collected for the study was through a structured questionnaire developed by the researchers, termed the “Open Educational Resources Digital Skills Competencies Questionnaire (OERDSCQ)”, employing a 5-point Likert and Rating scales. The questionnaire underwent validation by three experts and a trial test was conducted on five lecturers and four ICT unit staff at Yobe State Polytechnic, Damaturu, where a reliability index of 0.89 was achieved using the Cronbach Alpha method. The mean statistic was utilized to answer the four research questions. Based on the results, the study revealed that across eleven clusters of competencies ranging from technical skills to pedagogical competencies, all competencies were deemed necessary for effective teaching and learning in electrical engineering technology; and regarding the accessibility of open educational resources (OERs) in Northeast Nigerian Polytechnics reveal a significant discrepancy in availability and ease of access to OER. The study recommended that the government should implement structured digital skills training programs tailored to the needs of electrical engineering lecturers in Northeast Nigerian Polytechnics; and the government should invest in infrastructure and technological resources to enhance access to digital tools and resources within Northeast Nigerian Polytechnics.

Socialization of Earthquake Friendly House Planning with a Theme "Nagari is Resilient to Earthquake Disasters" in Nagari Kajai, West Pasaman Regency

West Pasaman Regency is an area that has a fairly large threat of earthquake and tsunami disasters. The 6.2 Mw West Pasaman earthquake that occurred on February 25 2022 was quite large and resulted in 25 people dying, 465 people being injured and at least 16,000 people being displaced. This earthquake was located on the slopes of Mount Talamau at a depth of 10 km which was triggered by the activity of the Semangko fault fault, precisely in the unmapped Talamau segment. Apart from the loss of life, another impact caused by this earthquake disaster was the large number of collapses in people's houses. People's houses that have simple construction have a greater potential for collapse compared to other buildings whose designs comply with existing regulatory standards. In general, people's houses are only built by builders who do not know the technicalities of building earthquake-friendly houses. Builders are the main key to the quality of housing construction in society, so more attention is needed from people who are experts in their field because it is in their hands that the structural strength of a house is built. The community service organized by the Institute for Research and Community Service (LP2M) Padang State University together with several Civil Engineering lecturers aims to channel their knowledge to the community, especially to builders to increase knowledge in building earthquake-friendly houses. This activity is also expected to reduce damage in the future if an earthquake occurs, which has been designed according to standards applicable in Indonesia. From the results of interviews with several builders and local residents, it turns out that their knowledge of the basic techniques for building earthquake-friendly houses is still limited. So that this outreach can provide a useful contribution to builders' knowledge of the basics of earthquake-friendly house construction.

RANCANG BANGUN GENERATOR MAGNET PERMANEN FLUKS AKSIAL PADA PROTOTYPE PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK TENAGA BAYU (PLTB) SUMBU VERTIKAL

Axial flux permanent magnet generators are easy to manufacture because only the rotor and stator are aligned. Axial flux generators are one of the right choices for wind power plants due to the large number of magnetic poles, high electrical power density, and easy-to-increase power capacity. The axial flux type permanent magnet generator is designed with a speed of 600 rpm, a frequency of 50 Hz, a voltage of 12 V, a power of 7 Watts, 1 phase, 10 pairs of Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) type magnetic poles, and 5 copper wire coils measuring 0.6 mm in diameter with a total of 301 turns. This vertical-axis wind farm test uses an axial flux permanent magnet generator with a 5? resistor load and is assisted by a blower. The blower is used to get a constant turbine rotation in accordance with the results of wind speed measurements taken for 3 days on the rooftop of the electrical engineering lecture building, namely the wind speed range of 3-5 m/s. Based on these tests, the generator is able to produce a voltage of 1.5 V, a current of 0.2 A, a power of 0.27 Watt, and a generator efficiency level of 0.63% at a wind speed of 3 m/s. It also produces a voltage of 4.4 V, a current of 0.7 A, a power of 2.77 Watt, and a generator efficiency level of 0.97% at a wind speed of 5 m/s.

Interactive Learning Media to Introduce Working Principle of Hybrid Machines Using Digital Platforms

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, education shifted to application-based and online lectures. In observations made until after the pandemic ended, the use of digital platforms in teaching and learning activities continued in a combined face-to-face and virtual mode. In engineering technology-based learning models, the use of digital platforms was often used. For example, in presenting PowerPoint presentation materials and similar applications. Students were able to absorb lecture material well as long as they didn’t go through boring lectures. Engineering lectures in classrooms and online classes based on presentation platforms were often viewed as boring. Due to this, teachers need to deliver lectures face-to-face in class and deliver material available in books and lectures. Online, the material presented was less attractive to students and was ignored. This study aimed to introduce interactive learning media in the form of a digital platform which contains material about hybrid engines, working principles and components and provides examples of their application in modern vehicle technology. The interactive learning media was used to support the material in lectures so that when attending lectures in class and practicing the material, students could follow them well and optimize learning outcomes. Interactive learning media was made as attractive as possible, informative, and easy to reach because it was accompanied by pictures and videos and had the advantage of being low-cost. The research method used was Research and Development conducted through direct observation of student behavior, then conducting interviews with relevant lecturers and distributing questionnaires to students to obtain valid results. The research continued with the development of a digital platform-based interactive learning media. The final results of the study stated that students and teachers agreed that digital platform-based learning media can be used as media support in teaching techniques. The resulting digital platform-based interactive learning media can be operated online on a laptop or smartphone. It is hoped that the results of this research can help the teaching and learning process in lecture techniques, especially material regarding hybrid engines.
 Keywords: interactive learning media, digital platform, COVID-19.

Upaya Kontribusi melalui Keterlibatan Pengabdian Mahasiswa dalam Proses Konstruksi Pondasi Bored Piled Jembatan Timbang

This activity is a community service carried out by UMKT Civil Engineering students who are integrated with UMKT Civil Engineering Lecturers for two months. The collaboration carried out by students with industry partners in the weighing-bridge construction project showed an essential contribution to the integration of actual and theory. The focus of this community service activity is the implementation of work methods on bored pile foundation work. Student activities include direct observation, interviews, and comparative theory analysis with field practice. The activity results focus on Standard Penetration Test (SPT) soil testing data, determining weighing-bridge bored pile points, and implementation methods. Through this activity, students and lecturers play an active role in providing accurate contributions to industrial partners in ensuring the efficiency and quality of the implementation of bored pile foundations. Thus, this activity not only provides solutions to problems faced by industrial partners but also serves as a direct learning medium for students. This emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach that combines science, technology, practical expertise, and academic theory in planning bored pile foundations for weighbridges.

Peningkatkan Pemahaman dan Minat Siswa SMKN 1 Kalinyamatan Jepara pada Internet of Things (IoT): Pelatihan dalam rangka Perayaan Dies Natalis Teknik Elektro UNISNU Jepara

In the context of community engagement, the Student Association of the Electrical Engineering Program (HMPSTE) at Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic University (UNISNU) Jepara conducted an Internet of Things (IoT) training as part of the celebration of the Dies Natalis of the Electrical Engineering Department at UNISNU. The main issue addressed was enhancing the understanding of students from SMKN 1 Kalinyamatan Jepara regarding the concepts and applications of IoT in daily life. The method employed involved a practical and interactive approach, with direct instruction by Ahmad Faidlon a lecturer in Electrical Engineering at UNISNU Jepara with expertise in IoT. The material was presented in an easily understandable language, providing fundamental knowledge about IoT, its principles, and examples of its implementation in various fields. Interactive strategies included Q&A sessions and direct discussions between students and the speaker. The results of the community engagement encompassed an improved understanding of IoT technology among students and a heightened interest in the field. Muhammad Wildan Aufal Addiyan, Chairman of HMPSTE UNISNU Jepara, expressed satisfaction with the success of the training, hoping it would motivate and provide new insights to students regarding the latest technological developments. A participant in the training also expressed gratitude, stating joy over the clarity and attractiveness of the material presented. Through this training, HMPSTE UNISNU Jepara contributed to the development of technological knowledge among students at SMKN 1 Kalinyamatan Jepara, creating a positive moment in the celebration of the Dies Natalis of the Electrical Engineering Department at UNISNU, and strengthening the bond between students and the community.

“This is for Sure a Question at Your Exams”: Assessment References in EMI and L1 Engineering Lectures

“This is for Sure a Question at Your Exams”: Assessment References in EMI and L1 Engineering Lectures

UI/UX Design of Web-Based for Outcome-based Education (OBE) Assessment Information System in Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji (UMRAH) Using Prototype Method

Outcome-based Education (OBE) is one of the teaching approaches that influences the learning process starting from curriculum design, learning outcomes, learning methods, and forms of evaluation of learning. Implementation of the OBE curriculum will not run without a student learning outcome assessment system. Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji has implemented the OBE education system in 2024 in the Informatics Engineering study program. However, it does not yet have an information system for assessing Graduate Learning Outcomes and Course Learning Outcomes, so the assessment system is still carried out manually. This study aims to build an OBE curriculum Assessment Information System that can be accessed via the website based on performance indicators and assessment rubrics. Thus, it makes it easier for system users to assess student learning outcomes in the OBE curriculum. The UI/UX design of the OBE curriculum assessment information system refers to the OBE manual guidebook. The results of this study are in the form of a website-based information system design developed using the Prototype method. The framework used is MVC from Laravel which can make the process of creating a website more structured and organized so that it is easier to complete work faster. Then, this system uses API authentication tokens for website security. The testing method used in the prototype design uses the User Acceptance Test (UAT) by involving the UMRAH Informatics Engineering Lecturer Discussion Forum Group as users of the information system. The results of UAT test stated that the system design created can help solve problems in designing an OBE assessment information system because all users contributed to the development of the OBE assessment system so that the design of this system can be well received by users of the information system.

Relationships of Abstraction and Application Complexity in the Attainment between Mathematics and Electrical Engineering Modules in Diploma Courses of South Africa

In South Africa, universities are under pressure to meet increasing targets for student enrolment in engineering disciplines and fields. This has resulted in many students being enrolled in engineering programs without possessing the minimum required mathematical skills and understanding to tackle the challenging engineering disciplines. Hence, the engineering disciplines have a high student attrition and failure rate. This study aimed to evaluate the complex relationship of abstraction and application between mathematics attainment and principles of electrical engineering attainment by the students enrolled in diploma courses in technical universities of South Africa. A blend of quantitative and qualitative data was used. Legitimation code theory (LCT) was used to determine the complexity of higher learning levels. The relationships between six core courses in the Electrical Engineering curriculum were investigated to analyze the knowledge building from mathematics modules to principles of electrical engineering modules. The problem-solving, analytics, and abstract mathematical skills developed in these modules impact the overall progression into principles of electrical engineering courses at different levels for diverse students. The research examines the theoretical foundation, student performance, and practical application of mathematical ideas in electrical engineering using curriculum documents, student academic records, and interviews with electrical engineering lecturers. The study found a weak correlation between the two modules and examined how resources, cultural attitudes, and pedagogy affect student achievement. The results indicate an unexpected negative and fragile correlation between the lower mathematics and engineering modules at high levels. The LCT analysis showed the disconnect between the mathematics courses and the principles of electrical engineering in both the level of abstraction used in the studies and the extent of application principles taught.

ENGINEERING LECTURERS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS EFFECTIVE CONCLUSION SECTION IN ENGINEERING FINAL YEAR PROJECT PRESENTATION

Final year project presentation (FYPP) assessment in the engineering field aims to evaluate students’ comprehension in the principles and concepts learnt and its application in resolving problems through engineering projects.The components assessed in FYPPs include the presentation slides that comprise introduction, content and conclusion sections. Many studies have emphasised the significance of the conclusion section in project presentations; however, there has not been much research that explores the students' knowledge and practice on conclusion moves in their FYPPs from the FYPP lecturers’ perspective. Therefore, this qualitative study, through focus group interviews, explored the perceptions of 12 engineering lecturers from a private higher institution in the east coast region of Malaysia. These lecturers, who were also the students’ FYP supervisors were asked about the students’ overall performance in delivering FYPP conclusion section, the significance of the conclusion section and the challenges faced by engineering undergraduates when presenting their conclusion section. The findings indicate that the lecturers rated students' conclusion presentations as average. The findings reveal that for the lecturers, the conclusion section is significant as it is part of the FYPP assessment rubric and it reflects students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills. In addition, the key challenges faced by students in presenting an effective conclusion section were the English language barriers and obliviousness of the essential elements of a conclusion section. Pedagogical implications include providing training that highlights the importance of the conclusion section in FYPPs, and all the moves necessary in the conclusion section.

Creating a Supportive and Effective Learning Environment for Engineering Students

Engineering education requires a strong emphasis on problem-solving, critical thinking, and practical application of knowledge. To achieve the highest quality of teaching, educators must create a trusting environment that allows students to feel comfortable asking questions and performing to the best of their abilities. This paper outlines the teaching philosophy and practices of an engineering lecturer who has adapted his pedagogical approach across several universities in Sweden and abroad. The author emphasizes the importance of being flexible and responsive to student needs, offering early and constructive feedback, and providing students a safe and supportive learning environment with opportunities to develop programming skills. The paper also includes comments from students that reflect the author’s effectiveness as an educator in creating a supportive and challenging learning environment for engineering students.

Problem-based learning for shifting and TVET Electrical Engineering lecturers’ practices: A scoping review

Problem-solving capacity is continuously gathering prominence in the Engineering education programmes of most institutions of higher learning. Embracing problem-based learning is necessary for Electrical Engineering lecturers in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) so as to shift from teacher-centred to student-centred teaching approaches which engage students in the learning process. Despite this, research on the use of problembased learning in TVET contexts by Electrical Engineering lecturers is limited. In this study, we conducted a scoping review to identify those key components which are necessary for the effective implementation of problem-based learning in a TVET Electrical Engineering programme. Our findings indicated that the problem, the facilitator and the students are the three components noted as essential constituents that are vital to the effective implementation of a problem-based learning strategy in TVET Electrical Engineering programmes. Our findings stress that, in addition to the three components, the type and nature of the problem, including the philosophy of the subject or the programme, need to be considered before inculcating problem-solving capabilities in TVET Electrical Engineering lecturers.

Theoretically Rich Design Thinking: Blended Approaches for Educational Technology Workshops

This paper is a reflective account that outlines the design of two Continual Professional Development (CPD) workshop sessions based on a blend of theory for design thinking about aspects of curriculum, pedagogy and technology. The theoretical approach blended aspects of design-based research, speculative design, Activity Theory and subtractive change to address issues, barriers and explore opportunities in each workshop example that is presented. The first of these workshops brought university engineering lecturers together to explore the opportunities and barriers for integrating ‘co-creation’ as a pedagogical strategy to subject teaching alongside a new interface into their curriculum. The results show how design thinking exposes limitations and challenges that prevent the realisation of pedagogically rich interventions. The second workshop brought together post-compulsory vocational lecturers to a teacher education workshop and used the same theoretical reference points to inform and antagonise the implications that Large Language Models, such as Chat GPT, present to subject knowledge, curriculum design and modes of assessment. Here these theoretically rich forms are proposed for planning use in learning design and for reshaping curricula, where academics and other professionals supporting teaching and learning may want to introduce new technologies and integrate innovative pedagogical methods or confront new challenges to their work. They may also be used as continual professional development sessions in highly participatory, practical and creative ways that allow for lucid experimentation and to imbue professionals with agency and trust.

A different approach to estimate air moisture

When comparing dry and humid air densities and trying to understand which one is denser, the right answer not necessarily follows our intuition. This happens in the Environmental Engineering lectures when students are asked: Is dry or humid air denser? To understand the role of water vapor in air, a method to compute the mass mixing ratio, specific humidity and average molecular weight is presented. This set of equations is more precise than the traditional method and clarifies how water vapor influences physical properties such as air density and bulk molecular weight.

In the Lab: Heterogeneous Catalysis Mediated Interconversion between NAD(P)+ and NAD(P)H Accompanied by Consumption and Generation of Hydrogen

Dr. Wang is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Lancaster University. Prior to this, he was a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Heriot-Watt University, where he also obtained his PhD (2014). He completed both MSc and BEng studies at Tianjin University. Wang has been the author of over 50 peer-reviewed publications, an editorial board member of Chinese Chemical Letters and his research has mainly been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Royal Society, UK Catalysis Hub and industry. Wang’s research interest ranges from reaction engineering, green energy and materials to chemicals, where heterogeneous catalysis is the core discipline. His recent work has focused on the innovative use of heterogeneous catalysts (e.g., supported metals) in enzymatic transformations via cofactor regeneration,1,2 paving the way to a potential new regeneration technology.