Abstract
The study determined the effects of the problem-based teaching method on students’ cognitive achievement and interest in Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice in Akwa Ibom State Technical Colleges. Two specific purposes, two research questions, and two research hypotheses guided the study. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted. The population comprised 176 Senior Technical Two (ST2) students from the nine public technical colleges in the state, from which 68 students were sampled from two intact classes using purposive and random sampling techniques.
Three instruments were used in the study, namely the Problem-based Instructional Package (PBIP), the Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice Achievement Test (MECPAT), and the Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice Interest Inventory (MECPII). The instruments were subjected to face and content validation. The reliability coefficient of the MECPAT was 0.87, while that of the MECPII was 0.84. The two intact classes were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The Problem-based Instructional Package constituted the treatment for the experimental group, while the control group was taught using conventional lesson plans. The experiment lasted four weeks and covered four lessons. Mean, standard deviation, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) were used for data analysis.
The findings revealed a significant difference between the mean post-test achievement scores and post-interest scores of students in Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice in favor of those taught using the problem-based teaching method. The study recommended, among other things, that teachers of Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice in Akwa Ibom State Technical Colleges should adopt the problem-based teaching method when teaching key topics in the subject, while the conventional teaching method should be de-emphasized.
Keywords: Problem-based teaching method, Cognitive achievement, Students’ interest, Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice
Namkere John Udoudo, PhD
Department of Industrial Technology Education, University of Uyo, Uyo
Email: namkerejudoudo@uniuyo.edu.ng