Integrated Computer-Aided Learning Program in Chemical Reaction Engineering I−A Senior Course in B. Eng Chemical Engineering Degree for Problem-Based Learning Implementation

This paper presents the implementation of problem-based learning (PBL) for student-centred teaching and learning deploying the concept of integrated computer-aided learning program (CALP) with the aid of Polymath® in the second part of the course synopsis for Chemical Reaction Engineering I (CHEN 407), which is one of the fundamental ground-breaking works on PBL programmes for new learning pedagogies in Engineering Education at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. A cohort of 103, 117, and 183 students were taught CHEN 407 using the combined strategies of deductive and inductive approaches for three (3) consecutive sessions of 2008/2009, 2009/2010, and 2010/2011, respectively. Survey questionnaires were administered to the cohorts of students. They were asked to indicate how they strongly agree or disagree, most likely or unlikely acquired the skills and attributes of what led to their successes or failures in the course due to the introduction of CALP for PBL, make comparisons between the CALP for PBL and the traditional ways for teaching and learning CHEN 407, freely comment, and lastly draw a conclusion about their overall satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the introduction of CALP for PBL in the programme. The results of the third academic session, 2010/2011 are presented and analysed. It can be inferred from the implemented PBL that most of the course learning outcomes were achieved by the candidates in CHEN 407 as indicated in the survey responses.