An Assessment on the Perception and Practices of Instructors and Engineering Students towards Teaching and Learning Technical Report Writing and Research Methodology: Three Public Universities of the Country in Focus

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the perception and practices of instructors and engineering students towards teaching and learning the course scientific technical report writing and research methodology. The study particularly, investigate motivational methods do instructors use to mobilize engineering students’ towards learning the course scientific technical report writing skill, examine how engineering students perceive importance of the course, assess the extent to which engineering students were eager to make active engagement inside and outside the classroom, and identify the influencing factors that demotivate instructors and engineering students towards teaching and learning the course.

To accomplish this purpose, the study employed a descriptive survey method, which is supplemented by quantitative and qualitative research method to enrich data. The study was carried out in three public universities in the country purposively.  Questionnaire and interview was the main instrument utilized during data collection. Descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation for quantitative part and narration for qualitative part were employed to analyze data. The findings of the study revealed that learning the course scientific technical report writing skills would enable the students to be competent in the skills like: writing CVs, office memos, minutes of formal meetings, technical report, executive summary, multidisciplinary projects, job application letters, and writing research proposal. Moreover, the findings of the study indicated that less attention given to the course by some respective departments and students, large class size, inconsistency of time or period allocation to the course and lack of reference materials on the course are some negative influencing factors or challenges instructors faced while teaching scientific technical report writing skills. Finally recommendations were drawn based on the above findings. Hence, engineering students need to be competent enough in scientific technical report writing skills like writing CVs, office memos, minutes of formal meetings, executive summary, projects, and job application letters. Likewise, department heads and faculty deans should give attention to the course scientific technical report writing skills to better benefit engineering students from the course.