Enhancing Electronics Technology Students’ Learning Experience and Satisfaction: The Role of Computer Simulation Software Packages

Emmanuel Raymond, Maxwell Emmanuel Uduafemhe

Abstract


This paper examined the role of computer simulation software packages in enhancing the learning experiences and satisfaction of students undertaking electronics technology course. Emphasis was laid on defining learning experience as all the activities and interactions within the school system from which students can learn. As well as student satisfaction, which is students’ perceptions of learning experiences and perceived value of a course. The factors affecting electronics technology students’ learning experiences and satisfaction such as: quality of staff, student teacher relationship, socio-cultural background, teacher-student ratio and admission standards were highlighted. It was established from the literature reviewed that, electronics technology is capital intensive and the funds required for procuring equipment and consumables are not often readily available. Hence, in order to address the challenges, the use of computer simulation software packages such as MATLAB, Multisim, PowerSim, PSPICE, Schematic and CircuitLab were identified and discussed in the paper considering the advantages they offer. The paper further recommended that both teachers and students of electronics technology are encouraged to embrace the use of computer simulation software for enhancing students’ learning experiences and satisfaction.


Full Text:

PDF

References


Alimi, O. S., Ehinola, G, B., Alabi, F. O. (2012). School types, facilities and academic performance of students in senior secondary schools in Ondo State, Nigeria. International Education Studies, 5(3), 44-48. doi:10.5539/ies.v5n3p44.

Aliyu, G. A. (2016). Influence of socio-economic status on academic achievement of senior secondary students, in Nassarawa Zonal Education area of Kano State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Educational Research, 4(4), 1-8.

Asfani, K. Suswanto, H. & Wibawa, A. P. (2016). Influential factors of students’ competence. World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education, 14(3), 416-420.

Axelrod, C. W. (2012). Engineering safe and secure software systems. Artech House.

Calvo, R. A., Markauskaite, L. & Trigwell, K. (2010). Factors affecting students’ experiences and satisfaction about teaching quality in engineering. Australasian Journal of Engineering Education, 16(2), 139-148.

De Smet, C., Valcke, M., Schellens, T., De Wever, B., & Vanderlinde, R. (2016). A qualitative study on learning and teaching with learning paths in a learning management system. JSSE-Journal of Social Science Education, 15(1), 27-37.

Dean, A. A. (2011). Improving the educational experience of HLST students in higher education. The Higher Education Academy York: Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Network.

Department of Education and Training. (2015). Selected higher education statistics – 2015 Student Data. Canberra: Department of Education and Training.

Dhaqane, M. K. & Afrah, A. A. (2016). Satisfaction of students and academic performance in Benadir University. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(24), 59-63.

Douglas, J. A., Douglas, A., McClelland, R. J. & Davies, J. (2015) Understanding student satisfaction and dissatisfaction: an interpretive study in the UK higher education context. Studies in Higher Education, 40(2), 329-349. doi: 10.1080/03075079.2013.842217.

Etor, C. R., Mbon, U. F. & Ekpenyong, E. E. (2013). Primary education as a foundation for qualitative higher education in Nigeria. Journal of Education and Learning, 2(2), 155- 164.

Fang, N. & Guo, Y. (2016). Interactive computer simulation and animation for improving student learning of particle kinetics. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 32(5), 443-455.

Fang, N. (2012). Using computer simulation and animation to improve student learning of engineering dynamics. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 56(2012), 504-512.

Federal Republic of Nigeria (2013). National policy on education. Lagos. NERDC Press.

Furo, P. T. (2015). Computer assisted instruction (CAI) and students’ interest as determinant of SS II chemistry students’ achievement in chemical equilibrium in Rivers State. IOSR Journal of Applied Chemistry (IOSR-JAC), 8(8), 50-56.

Gambari, I. A., & Yusuf, M. O. (2014). Development and validation of computer instructional package on physics for secondary schools in Nigeria. Educational Research International, 3(1), 112-130.

Gimba, R. W., Falode, O. C., & Bashir, A. U. (2015). Effect of computer simulation instructional package on senior secondary school mathematics students’ retention in arithmetic progression in Lavun local government area of Niger State, Nigeria. African Symposium, 15(1), 20-24.

Hassan, R., Ismail, A., & Ibrahim, N. H. (2016). Employer engagement in skills development and tvet in Southeast Asia. Retrieved on 28th February 2018 from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Razali_Hassan2/publication/304750041_Employ er_Engagement_in_Skills_Development_and_TVET_in_Southeast_Asia/links/5779b37b08ae4645d611f2a3/Employer-Engagement-in-Skills-Development-and-TVET-in- Southeast-Asia.pdf.

Hooker, M. (2017). A study on the implementation of the strengthening innovation and practice in secondary education initiative for the preparation of science, technology, English and mathematics (stem) teachers in Kenya to integrate information and communication technology (ICT) in teaching and learning (Doctoral dissertation, Queen’s University Belfast).

James, R., French, S. & Kelly, P. (2017). Visions for Australian tertiary education. Melbourne: Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education, The University of Melbourne.

Kuo, Y., Walker, A. E., Belland, B. R. & Schroder, K. E. E. (2013). A predictive study of student satisfaction in online education programs. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 12(1), 16-39.

Lo, C. C. (2012). How student satisfaction factors affect perceived learning. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 10(1), 47–54.

Microcontrollers Lab (2017). Best electronics simulation software. Retrieved on 16th March 2018 from http://microcontrollerslab.com/circuit-simulation-software.

Mlambo, V. (2011). An analysis of some factors affecting student academic performance in an introductory biochemistry course at the University of the West Indies. Caribbean Teaching Scholar, 1(2), 79–92.

Ntibi, J. E. & Edoho, E. A. (2017). Influence of school location on students’ attitude towards mathematics and basic science. British Journal of Education, 5(10), 76-85.

Oyelekan, O. S., & Olorundare, A. S. (2009). Development and validation of a computer instructional package on electrochemistry for secondary schools in Nigeria. International Journal of Education and Development using ICT, 5(2). Retrieved on 24 February 2018 from http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/viewarticle.php?id=677.

Pannam Imaging Advances Interface Solution (2017). Top pcb design software tools for electronics engineers: 46 must-have tools to streamline pcb design. Retrieved on 2 February 2018 from https://www.pannam.com/blog/best-pcb-design-software-tools/.

Raghuwanshi, S. S., Singh, A. & Mokhariwale, Y. (2012). A comparison & performance of simulation tools MATLAB/SIMULINK, PSIM & PSPICE for power electronics circuits. International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering. 2(3), 187-191.

Raj, N. (2015). Open source circuit simulator software list. Retrieved on 20th January 2018 from https://www.quora.com/Which-one-is-the-best-software-for-breadboard-circuit- analysis.

Raymond, E., Uduafemhe, M. E. & Shuaibu, H. (2016). Effects of computer simulation on Nigeria certificate in education students’ psychomotor achievement and interest in electronics technology. Journal of Information, Education, Science and Technology (JIEST), 3(2), 66-73.

Taher, M., & Khan, A. (2015). Comparison of simulation-based and hands-on teaching methodologies on students’ learning in an engineering technology program. Q Science Proceedings, 58. DeVry University, Addison, Illinois, USA. https://doi.org/10.5339/qproc.2015.elc2014.58.

Thom-otuya, B. E. N. & Inko-tariah, D. C. (2016). Quality education for national development: The Nigerian experience. African Educational Research Journal, 4(3), 101-108.

Tobin, P. (2007). Pspice for circuit theory and electronic devices. Dublin. Morgan and Claypool publishers.

Udo, M. E., & Etiubon, R. U. (2011). Computer-based science simulations, guided-discovery and students’ performance in chemistry. Modern Applied Science, 5(6), 211-217. doi:10.5539/mas.v5n6p211.

Uduafemhe, E. M. (2015). Comparative effects of scaffolding and collaborative instructional approaches on secondary school students’ cognitive and psychomotor achievement in basic electronics in north central, Nigeria. Unpublished master’s thesis, Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria.

Vogt, H., Hendrix, M. and Nenzi, P. (2018). Ngspice user’s manual version 27 plus. Retrieved on 12th March 2018 from http://ngspice.sourceforge.net/docs/ngspice-manual.pdf

Zerihun, Z., Beishuizen, J. & Van Os, W. (2012). Student learning experience as indicator of teaching quality. Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability, 24, 99- 111. doi:10.1007/s11092-011-9140-4.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.