Using mechatronics curriculum design in enhancing vocational high-school students' competence in scientific inquiry

Abstract

An inquiry-based curriculum was cooperatively designed by a group of vocational high-school teachers and researchers/teacher educators under the "High Scope Project" funded by the National Science Council of Taiwan. The designated curriculum was implemented to enhance vocational high-school students' learning of advanced technology and their competence in scientific inquiry. Within the context of the targeted inquiry learning environment, possible changes of targeted students' competence in scientific inquiry were assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively to serve as cardinal evidence in supporting this innovative reform. A mixed methods approach was employed in this study for assessing targeted vocational high-school students' competence in scientific inquiry. Within the context of the High Scope Project, ten teachers of two departments ("Department of Electrical Engineering [DEE]" and "Department of Mechanical Engineering [DME]") in a vocational high-school in southern Taiwan participated in the process of designing and implementing the interdisciplinary inquiry curriculum, while their students also engaged in the learning processes. This mixed methods study was composed of two parts: a qualitative case study and a follow-up quantitative quasi-experimental study. In this article, we present the designated curriculum designed in the High Scope Project. The summary of the qualitative results showed that eleven aspects of students' change and progress in competence in scientific inquiry were generalized and categorized into six types of competence. These competencies, in turn, were classified into three dimensions: basic, advanced, and criticizing competences. The quantitative findings revealed that all participating students gained superior improvement on their competence in scientific inquiry, verifying the effectiveness of the designated curriculum. Implications derived from findings and discussions were proposed for further improvement and future study with the ultimate goal of enhancing students' competence in scientific inquiry. © 2015 TEMPUS Publications.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Engineering education Competence in scientific inquiry Mechatronics curriculum design Vocational high-school student

Index Keywords

Teaching Teachers' Curricula Engineering education Apprentices Students Mixed method education Computer aided instruction Curricula design Qualitative case studies Design High school students Mechatronics advanced technology High school teachers Curriculum designs Scientific inquiry National Science Council Three dimensions Competence in scientific inquiry Inquiry-based Mechatronic curriculum Mechatronic curriculum design Vocational high-school student

Author Affiliations

Graduate Institute of Educational Administration and Policy Development, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan

Funding & Acknowledgements

Ministry of Science and Technology, MOST

Funding text 1: This \u2018\u2018High Scope\u2019\u2019 project (Phase II) is supported by National Science Council of Taiwan, NSC 102-2514-S-415-001. The author was grateful to all scholars and participants for their valuable suggestions, as well as Prof. Dale Gentry for language editing. (Note: Currently, \u2018\u2018National Science Council\u2019\u2019 is renamed as \u2018\u2018Ministry of Science and Technology\u2019\u2019); Funding text 2: Acknowledgements\u2014This \u2018\u2018High Scope\u2019\u2019 project (Phase II) is supported by National Science Council of Taiwan, NSC 102-2514-S-415-001. The author was grateful to all scholars and participants for their valuable suggestions, as well as Prof. Dale Gentry for language editing. (Note: Currently, \u2018\u2018National Science Council\u2019\u2019 is renamed as \u2018\u2018Ministry of Science and Technology\u2019\u2019)

National Science Council, NSC

Grant: NSC 102-2514-S-415-001

Funding text 1: This \u2018\u2018High Scope\u2019\u2019 project (Phase II) is supported by National Science Council of Taiwan, NSC 102-2514-S-415-001. The author was grateful to all scholars and participants for their valuable suggestions, as well as Prof. Dale Gentry for language editing. (Note: Currently, \u2018\u2018National Science Council\u2019\u2019 is renamed as \u2018\u2018Ministry of Science and Technology\u2019\u2019); Funding text 2: Acknowledgements\u2014This \u2018\u2018High Scope\u2019\u2019 project (Phase II) is supported by National Science Council of Taiwan, NSC 102-2514-S-415-001. The author was grateful to all scholars and participants for their valuable suggestions, as well as Prof. Dale Gentry for language editing. (Note: Currently, \u2018\u2018National Science Council\u2019\u2019 is renamed as \u2018\u2018Ministry of Science and Technology\u2019\u2019)

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Using mechatronics curriculum design in enhancing vocational high-school students' competence in scientific inquiry

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