Innovative teaching and learning tools for foundation in engineering education

Students in Malaysia who aspire to pursue a degree in engineering have the
option of enrolling in either a specific foundation programme or a generic preuniversity programme, which while offering more flexibility, does not offer the
focus of an engineering specific foundation programme. This paper outlines the
design of a new foundation programme that is aimed at preparing year 11
students to smoothly transit into an engineering programme of their choice.
This programme has three main features, firstly, it is project-based and designed
according to the CDIO Framework, secondly, the theory part of the programme
is delivered using technology, namely iBook and MOOCs, and thirdly it has
and eXtreme Learning Process (XLP). The surveys done to assess the trial runs
of the XLP and the iBook indicate that students found the methodology to be
both useful and interesting. The first batch of students will join in July 2013 and
more data will be available by then.