Abstract
While the adoption of resource based education (RBE) in the teaching of individual engineering subjects is not novel, the introduction of RBE throughout an entire university department is unprecedented. The purpose of this longitudinal study with second year Chemical Engineering students (n = 31) was to detect, quantify and describe the consequences for teaching and learning of some concerns that had arisen in students as a result of the introduction of RBE. These concerns appeared to pose some formidable obstacles to the successful implementation of RBE within the academic department. 62 obstacles to effective study that were rated both serious and frequently occurring (‘major problems’), were identified in conventionally taught course units and in RBE units, using personal interviews, the nominal group technique, and a modified perceived problems inventory (Cruickshank et al., 1974; Otto et al., 1979). Major study problems were isolated in each of the main learning resources provided in RBE and in conventional course units. Resource based education generated study problems for students that were quantitatively and qualitatively different from study problems encountered under conventional engineering education. Conventionally taught course units generated study problems in the lecture and student assessment components of the course, whereas RBE confronted students with new and major problems with use of the resource laboratory, with reference materials, with tutorials, and with student assessment demands.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baxter, E. P. (1990). ‘Resource Based Education in Chemical Engineering: Responding to Staff Perceptions of a Teaching Innovation’. Studies in Higher Education 15, 2 (in press).
Baxter, E. P. (1988). ‘Resource Based Education in Chemical Engineering: Student Perceptions of a Teaching Innovation’. Brisbane: University of Queensland, Tertiary Education Institute.
Becker, H. S., Geer, K. B. and Hughes, E. C. (1968). Making the Grade: the Academic Side of College Life. New York: Wiley.
Briggs, L. J. (1970). Handbook of Procedures for the Design of Instruction. Pittsburg: American Institute for Research.
Cruickshank, D. R. et al. (1974). ‘Perceived problems of secondary school teachers’, Journal of Educational Research 68: 154–159.
Ellington, R. T. (1988). ‘Engineering management: a course to minimize functional handicaps of graduates’, Chemical Engineering Education 22(20): 80–83.
Entwistle, N. J. (1985). Explaining individual differences in school learning. Paper presented at the First European Conference on Research on Learning and Instruction. Leuven (Proceedings to be published).
Entwistle, N. J., Hanley, M. and Hounsell, D. J. (1979). ‘Identifying distinctive approaches to studying’, Higher Education 8: 365–380.
Fransson, A. (1977). ‘On qualitative differences in learning. IV - Effects of motivation and test anxiety on process and outcome’, British Journal of Educational Psychology 47: 244–257.
Gane, C. (1972). The Scientific Basis of the Art of Teaching. New York: Teachers College Press.
Georg, D. (1987). ‘Students like new teaching method - with reservations’, Engineers Australia 20: 15.
Isaacs, G. (1987). ‘Learner oriented subjects in a teacher oriented course’, Research and Development in Higher Education 9: 87–94.
Kinnucan, P. (1984). ‘Computers that think like experts’, High Technology January, 30–42.
Laurillard, D. (1984). ‘Learning from problem solving.’ In Marton, F. et al. (eds.), The Experience of Learning. Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press.
Leung, L. S. (1985). Resource Based Education in Chemical Engineering: Progress Report 1984–1985. Brisbane: The University of Queensland, Department of Chemical Engineering.
Marton, F. and Säljö, R. (1976). ‘On qualitative differences in learning. II - Outcomes as a function of the learner's conception of the task’, British Journal of Educational Psychology 46: 115–127.
Marton, F. and Säljö, R. (1984). ‘Approaches to learning.’ In Marton, F. et al. (eds.) The Experience of Learning. Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press.
Merritt, J. and Harris, A. (1972). Curriculum Design and Implementation. Bletchley, Bucks: The Open University Press.
Morton et al. (1975). ‘A free-format course based on prerecorded learning materials’. In Baggaley, J. P. et al. (eds.) Aspects of Educational Technology VIII. London: Pitman. Pages 159–168.
Newell, R. B. et al. (1985). ‘A resource-based approach to ChE education’, Chemical Engineering Education Winter: 36–39, 50.
Noble, P. (1980). Resource Based Education in Post Compulsory Education. London: Kogan Page.
Otto, E. P. et al. (1979). ‘Perceived problems of beginning teachers’, The South Pacific Journal of Teacher Education 7(1&2): 28–33.
Pask, G. and Lewis, B. (1972). Teaching Strategies: A Systems Approach. Bletchley, Bucks: The Open University Press.
Rainey, G. L. (1981). ‘How to survive instructional innovation’, Engineering Education 72(2): 154–157.
Ramsden, P. (1979). ‘Student learning and perceptions of the academic environment’, Higher Education 8: 411–428.
Ramsden, P. (1984). ‘The context of learning.’ In Marton, F. et al. (eds.) The Experience of Learning. Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press.
Rockart, J. R. and Morton, M. S. S. (1975). Computers and the Learning Process in Higher Education. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Romiszowski, A. J. (1968). The Selection and Use of Teaching Aids. London: Kogan Page.
Routh, J. C. (1975). Independent Learning Systems and Their Implications for Libraries. Coombe Lodge Report 8(2): 52–57.
Utomo, T. and Ruijter, K. (1984). ‘Modular instruction under restricted conditions’, Chemical Engineering Education 18(1): 34–37.
Weiss, M. and Klepzig, H. J. (1981). ‘Methodological aids to media evaluation and selection’, Programmed Learning and Educational Technology 18(1): 30–43.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baxter, E.P. Comparing conventional and resource based education in chemical engineering: student perceptions of a teaching innovation. High Educ 19, 323–340 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00133896
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00133896