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1.1 Problem Statement: Education Rather Than A Subject-Centered One or A Teacher Centered One." This Clearly
1.1 Problem Statement: Education Rather Than A Subject-Centered One or A Teacher Centered One." This Clearly
1 Problem Statement
students. A big gap in understanding exists between brilliant students that opted for the
subject due to passion for it and students who opted for the subject due to lack of subject
combination/ poor form three results, leading to poor adaptability and understanding from
the part of these latter students. Thus the implication of the broader scope of the topic in
geometrical solids, development of geometrical solids and their truncated parts and aspect
of true length becomes much significant; this makes true the prophesy that if one is not at
ease with orthographic projection, he/she will not find the connected topics with it easy.
There exist also a time lag, between which topics are covered and examined and that is to
be considered; bearing in mind that it is a two-year syllabus. All these aspects lead to the
Proper teaching is to promote the understanding of the concept being taught with a view to
applying knowledge of such understanding to real life situations. The consistent poor
performance and negative attitude towards orthographic drawing attest to the fact that the
teaching is not properly done. Hence, the concepts being taught are not properly
teaching method that will best achieve the aim of teaching, thus improving performance
The White Paper on Education (1997, p.20) states “what we require is a child centered
education rather than a subject-centered one or a teacher centered one.” This clearly
shows that our education system has to be re-worked in the light of the educational crude
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realities in the field. Teachers should develop strategies which will help students to
The Action Plan (1998) elaborates on the crucial role of the teachers. It highlights that
teachers need to be much more of facilitators than providers of information. Efforts should
be made to guiding students on how to learn, how to think critically and how to develop
autonomy.
There is the view that teachers shy away from activity-oriented teaching methods which
is known to be effective, and rely on the teaching methods that are easy but most times
Shaibu(1997)).
Use of Projection Plane Method in the teaching and learning of Orthographic drawings at
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Demonstration as a technique with proper instructional design to be used in
Evaluating the effectiveness and usefulness of using real models and improved
orthographic drawings.
Our traditional way of teaching is too teacher centered, chalk and talk and questioning
followed by student seatwork on paper and pencil. A study is needed to investigate that
it makes the DC/DT class more student-centered thus improving the teaching-learning in a
form five class and also the changes that demonstration brings to the classroom practices.
and Communications /Technology syllabus. The curriculum has included this topic for it
is regarded as important and it forms the basis of much technical drawings ranging from
the easy to the most complex ones in higher classes / in prestigious careers such as doctors
and engineers.
There has been a paradigm observed in the students' behavior and performance across the
forms one to five over the four years of my teaching practice when it comes to
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Orthographic Projection. Students usually find the topic confusing and have difficulty in
in their book or on blackboard. They do not get the required competencies attached to the
topic despite properly given to them at the beginning of any orthographic projection
lesson; these have been found to be not ends in themselves. They also tend to
forget/ignore basic ground rules of the subject while drawing or in assessment conditions.
Also my teaching practice has been limited to mainly blackboard talk and chalk method
and although use of humor has been used to enhance the class climate yet the performance
of my students has been following same pattern despite enlivened and motivation signs I
have been obtaining from them during class. Other sign that my teaching requires
rejuvenation is from the fact that I find it time consuming and inaccurate to use the
blackboard in explaining the topic. It is also tiresome and linear, that is when there is a
need to re-explain an aspect to a student who asks for a second explanation, the drawing
Teachers usually have to design and adopt a variety of strategies and teaching aids to
satisfy the learning needs of their pupils. The different learning styles that can be
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VISUAL → learning motivated by seeing
"If one wants to reach younger people at an earlier age to shape their minds in a critical
way, you really need to know how ideas and emotions are expressed visually"- Martin
Scorsese
The action research aims at studying the use of demonstration as an effective visual/tactile
tool in teaching. Much stress has been laid on the visual capacity of human beings.
Indeed, we can retain snapshots of our past experiences and we can visualize future
possibilities. The brain structure is capable of absorbing 36,000 visual images every hour.
Research approximates that between 80% and 90% of the information received by the
Can the use of a real geometrical solids models and a real projection plane address
projection?
Will demonstration be appropriate for pupils with learning styles other than a
visual one?
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What type of instructional design is possible with a demonstration type of a
lesson?
How much will a demonstration with real models and projection plane be
appreciated by students?
How much will teaching be improved using demonstration with real models and
projection plane?
The research will be an attempt to answer all these questions as the experiments progress
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Models – Replica of geometrical solids in Card paper (See Appendix A for pictures)
Real Projection plane – A frame made out of wood which will act as the image plane
teaching………………………………
The research which assesses the usefulness and effectiveness of using a demonstration kit
the research.
Chapter 2 is the literature review chapter. Part of the literature review will be on
Orthographic Projection within the school curriculum of DC/DT. Additionally, it will also
general in education, their advantages and their disadvantages. The teaching methodology
will be finalized.
Chapter 3 is about the Methodology, there will be the justification for Action research
which includes the preparation and implementation of lesson plans, the different cycles in
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the Action Research and finally, the different observations made during the
implementation of the lessons. Also the various tools and data collection techniques will
be elaborated.
Chapter 4 deals with the collection and analysis of data and the personal reflections made.
Finally Chapter 5 consisting of the general conclusions and recommendations for further
1.0 Introduction
In this chapter, I will explore the topic of Orthographic Projection and will identify the
key prerequisites and competencies as required by form V students; this will help me to
better understand the topic peculiarities and enable me to organize my lesson. There will
also be the investigation into the teaching of orthographic projection and its recommended
teaching strategies. I will also look into teaching styles and learning styles in respect to
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mix abilities class setting and the appropriateness of demonstration as a teaching
technique.
Every engineering student must know how to create and read technical drawings as a basis
for self expression and professional communication (Giesecke, 1981). The importance of
this skill becomes apparent with the understanding that lines and technical symbols are
considered the language of engineering graphics (French & Vierck, 1978). Engineering
schools recognize the importance of this ability and require students to take one or more
(Hepler, 1957). One of the major abilities to be learned during a basic drafting course is
From its inception as a school subject, orthographic projection has been taught for its
practical values. The primary value for the study of orthographic projection is the
graphical representation of the exact shape and size of the three dimensional objects on
The ability to think, visualize, in three dimensions is one of the most important skills an
engineer or technician can posses (Giesecke et al., 1981). But according to Lowenfeld
(1945) and for what orthographic projection is concerned, there exists two types of
learners; the visual and the haptic. Felder and Spurlin (2005) also confirm that the
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predominant preferential learning styles of students in Technology education are active
The visual learner prefers to receive information visually while the haptic learner prefers
to handle objects. Therefore it could be inferred that perceptual styles affects learning
ability but a study by Baird (1990) has shown that visual –haptic perceptual style has no
Baird (1990) also found that only prior experience in drawing orthographic projection had
With the availability of information technology, one can think of using computers
Murphy (1987) concluded that there are no statistically significant differences that exist
between student achievement using either traditional equipment or CADD equipment. But
Hill (1971) who had compared two computer assisted instruction strategies for
orthographic projection found that visual student benefitted mostly from that type of
strategy but Baird (1990) found that despite perceptual style, unseen factors such as
motivation can lead to the adaptation of non-visual learners. Therefore with or without
CADD it does not quite make the difference in the learning of orthographic projection but
surely from a motivational perspective, the use of computers improves the climate for
learning especially in subjects that use computers (Valdez et al., 1999). To conclude this
brief exposé of learning style, the following quote of Felder and Silverman can be useful:
“active participation is the best teaching style for both types of learners. With active
participation probably affecting the entire classroom experience and hence, the other
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three dimensions, it is not unfound to surmise that active participation is superior to
“[Teachers] are failing to recognize the variety of thinking and learning styles they
[students] bring to the classroom, and teaching them in ways that don’t fit them well”
(Sternberg, 1999, p.17). According to Felder (1993): “students whose learning styles are
compatible with the teaching style of a course instructor tend to retain information longer,
apply it more effectively, and have more positive post-course attitudes toward the
subject.” Coming to the teaching strategy adopted by the teacher, it is known that
teaching should be done towards objectives which can be classified according to Bloom
(1964), i.e. the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains and those objectives should
be what student is to get out from any lesson. According to Schertz (1990), the
competencies for drafting are usually cognitive and psychomotor and this is inferred for
guide published by the Louisana State Department of Education (1981) suggests that
teachers should construct a projection box for demonstration purposes and models for
(1984) also suggest that explanations should be given and demonstration using a glass box
method for projecting regular views as learning activities in their teachers’ guide for
paper for curriculum framework on drafting in which it is suggested that discussion and
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demonstration be used as the teaching techniques for orthographic projection (See
Appendix B).
start the investigation of the Demonstration Method of teaching. But at this point, it is
important to consider the etymology of words and their meaning; there is no clear cut
distinction between the term ‘method’ and ‘device’ as some writers term devices as
methods of teaching (Aggarwal,1996, p. 90, p.97). The word ‘technique’ also creates
confusion. For the sake of my action research, I have chosen to consider them as follows:
1. Inspirational,
2. Expository,
3. Natural,
4. Individualized,
5. Encounter,
6. Discovery,
7. Group,
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Demonstrations are an effective method for teaching concepts and problem-solving
Demonstrations by teacher can be used with students of all ages and across all subjects.
The teacher is not only knowledgeable about the topic but also uses a variety of aids to
2.4.1Demonstration Step
Students and training aids are positioned properly. The students are directed to gather
view.
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The operations are showed and explained. The operations are performed in step-by-
operations are to be repeated. After each operation there is the need to pause briefly to
pay little attention towards certain important procedure and teachers can halt the
should be watched for reactions indicating lack of attention, confusion, or doubt; but
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In deciding how many and what kinds of repetition steps to include, several elements are
2.4.2.1 Instructor repetition step
the procedure and the important safety factors as the student performs the steps. This step
will motivate the students by proving that they can do the job with
be strengthened.
Demonstrations utilize several senses; students can see, hear, and possibly experience an
actual event. They stimulate interest and presents ideas and concepts more clearly.
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They provide direct experiences and reinforce learning (Newby, Stepich, Lehman, &
Demonstrations may fail and may limit participation. They may limit audience/client input
The first consideration is to know the type of class I have; Ireson & Hallam (2001) will
suggest that teachers need to recognize that a class is mixed ability because children have
different strengths and weaknesses and develop at different rates. They have different
With reference to my problem statement and section 2.1, the following has been identified
discussion. Also considering the disadvantages from section 2.5 such as limitation of
participation or client input and the fact that my class is a mix ability class; I thus have to
opt for a teaching method at this stage that could enclose the entire desirable demanded
facets and elimination of the negative attributes. I have opted for a collaborative group
teaching method including in it discussion and demonstration. From now onwards, this
This part is concerned into why group teaching came to be adopted alongside
demonstration for my mix ability class. According to Gayle and Carolyn (2007, p. 99),
when planning a class for differentiated learning, the teacher should think about focus
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activities whereby student’s attention are captured and for this I decided to adopt
From the many instructional strategies associated with a mix ability class, only
collaborative group learning came to englobe the desired characteristics given in the
previous section and this is well summarized in the following finding of Robbins,
Gregory, & Herndon (2000) whereby the acronym TASK is said to summarize the aspects
K – Keep everyone on Task: roles, tasks, resources, novelty, simulations, and clear
expectations.
2.6.2 Considerations for collaborative group work with a mixed ability class
There are six key steps involved in planning for cooperative learning
(http://www.slideshare.net/JuicyUniverse.com/cooperative-learning-1816077):
Jigsaw
Group Investigation
Think-Pair-Share
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Numbered Heads Together
Develop materials
2.6.3 Planning a lesson for that collaborative group work with demonstration as focus
activity
Stages:
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The first stage consists of the following details: thinking of a suitable way of applying
cooperative learning, in this instance with a task involving normal group work.
The next focus will be on the method of effectively grouping the students. According to
the student number and features of classroom tables, it is decided to divide students into
five groups, where three students sit at one drafting table. Random grouping is the
preferred method as it makes the students feel like they are being fairly treated and gives
them the chance to work with different members. By designating each student a
corresponding letter: A, B, C, D, & E, five groups are divided by the letter by which they
are called. After dividing students into groups, the next step is to assign a task for each
group and for each member of that group. The question of how to structure the process of
cooperative learning also needs to be addressed beforehand, and involves such aspects as
how to give precise instructions; how to monitor students and what kind of roles the
Tasks
In order to make sure all the students know what they need to do and take accountability
You are going to focus on the Pg 97-98 Section Pyramids, Unit 9 Solid Geometry. While you
to do go through
their ownthework,
section:
small task sheets are designed as follows:
Firstly, scan reading ad observation of constructions (you get 2 mins).
Secondly, read for details: be ready to answer the questions from your classmates and be
prepared for information sharing (5 mins). For example read, reflect and discuss on how to
start the drawing of Orthographic Projection.
Task sheet
Thirdly,for Group
perform A, B,asC,D
the activity &E
follows
One of you will take pictures from the teaching aid using your mobile cameras and sketch out
the shape (10mins). The next one will be planning the orthographic drawing on a page. The
third one will be planning the views as per third angle from the sketching made by his friend.
He may check it for missing lines and hidden edges by also looking simultaneously at the
models, photos and sketch.
Forth: After a final discussion (3 mins), each member will draw any one of the resulting front,
top and side views neatly on an A3 paper. (10 mins) You should use Bode’s Annotations.
Then write the group name and submit for correction.
You also need to choose one among you to be the coordinator to manage and oversee your
tasks.
However, please bear in your mind that individual contribution and group cooperation are 18
both essential in this activity.
After the demonstration stage which involves the demonstration, repetition and
performance steps, the next stage involves the teacher dividing the students into groups in
the same manner detailed in the previous section. When each student and group settles
down, the teacher allocates tasks and gives each student the task sheet and the appropriate
models from which they will draw the orthographic projection. As the students undertake
their group tasks, the teacher walks around and monitors the activity correcting any errors.
Before the grouping and just after the demonstration, when they finish the first step of the
task, the teacher then hands out the questions that are collected from the students and asks
the students to read and answer those questions. After five minutes, the teacher then brings
the group together again to discuss the answers. In this way the stronger students in the
group can help the weaker students and so peer teaching is encouraged. After finishing the
second step, the students continue the third step of the task as a group and as required in
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the task sheet. Again, the teacher will monitor these stages of the activity and ensure that
When the students finish all the tasks detailed in the task sheet, the teacher forms new
groups with one student from groups A, B, C, D, E respectively as each group was entitled
to the specific model of a geometrical solid. Each student must relate the information
he/she has been given to the newly-formed group and also answer the questions the
newly-formed group members have asked, explaining the different stages of the drawing
process of the new model. This stage sets up an information gap exercise to encourage
Class feedback
Ask the students to return to their original groups. Select students to describe the main
stages of the drawing and points where attention needs to be drawn. For example where
points from side view are reflected back to localize it in the top view using the line from
the front view. If the information exchange is successful, all the students should be able to
retell all the points with relative accuracy. Ask the other students to monitor their
classmates’ versions of the points, correcting any errors and adding any forgotten details.
2.8 Summary
I found that the ability to produce engineering drawing is the foundation for engineering
and design jobs. Amongst the engineering drawing, the topic of orthographic projection is
quite important. That topic is learned by mainly two types of learners – the visual and the
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haptic. But neither perception styles nor use of CADD have an effect on achievements of
students except for unseen factors such as motivation. It is further stressed out that
learning style should be compatible with the teaching style. Use of projection box,
demonstration, discussions and activities amongst other things has been recommended for
the teaching and learning of orthographic projection. The teaching methodology best
suited was identified as collaborative group teaching with demonstration as focus activity
and this methodology will be contrasted with the traditional expository teaching.
Kurt Lewin (1946) describes action research as a spiral of steps. Each step having four
stages: plan, act, observe and reflect. Each step comprises a cycle which is repeated in a
spiral of steps. Schon (1983) called this type research a reflective practice and Ghaye
(1986). As this type of research can be conducted in any field, it has found many followers
in the educational field and the following description is quite relevant: “Action Research
There are three types of approaches of Action Research that enable educators to
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3. school-wide action research
teacher only. Collaborative action research would involve more teachers researching the
same issue and this type of research carries more validity in it but my colleague being
involved in another research so that was not implemented. School-wide action research is
According to Cohen and Manion (1985), “action research is a small scale intervention in
the functioning of the real world and a close examination of the effects of such
intervention”. The main aim, then, would be to improve the teaching and learning
Current tendency and literature reckon action research as a research method for
having to take very rigid measures of conventional research which are most of the
The pupils who are the participants will be direct beneficiaries of the outcome of
the project. As Cohen and Manion (1985) put it: “Action Research interprets the
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scientific method much more loosely, chiefly because its focus is a specific
Valuable approaches to Action Research were found available but the cyclic model of
Kurt Lewin (1946) was found more appropriate. Link between each cycle of “plan, act,
observe, and reflect” to one another cycle is possible. The progress from one stage to
another and the follow-up of the progress accomplished was possible to be portrayed.
Three cycles of “plan, act, observe, reflect” was envisaged and I believe it was sufficient
to enable me to make some valid conclusions. In the past, teachers tended to look to others
to get ideas about how to perform a particular task but the main advantage of action
research is that it offers an alternative to probe into our own practice and with time
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Chapter Four
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4.3.2 Analysis of class work
Chapter Five
5.1 Conclusions
This case study will have a few limitations which are as follows:
1. This research was carried out with only one class due to time table and
class allocation. It would have been better if the second class could have
been involved and also if it were conducted in other schools around the
island
3. It is not possible to generalize since it was being conducted with only form
IV students and this also in a single school.
4. This research should have been carried out with the teaching of more
concepts instead of only one, but once again this was not possible due to
the time factor.
5.3 Recommendation
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References
Jensen, E. (1998) “How Julie's Brain Learns” Educational Leadership, Vol. 56, No.3, Pgs.
Charles Clark (2001) “Carr and Kemmis’s reflections” The Journal of the Philosophy of
Carr, W., & Kemmis, S. (1986) Becoming critical. Lewes: Falmer Press
http://www.dairyone.com/Forage/FactSheet/sampling_instructions.htm
http://www.surveysystem.com/sscalc.htm
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Appendixes
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