THE EFFECT OF SELECTED TEACHING METHODS ON ACQUISITION OF TECHNICAL SKILLS BY MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN TRAINEES: A CASE OF NATIONAL POLYTECHNICS IN THE WESTERN REGION OF KENYA

Abstract

The right approach to teaching and evaluation of practical subjects in technical colleges is crucial in imparting practical skills and adequate creative power to students in order to meet the requisite human resource skills needed in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs2016-2030), through technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Teaching methods can affect the acquisition of technical skills by mechanical engineering students in national polytechnics. In this study, the effect of teaching methods on the acquisition of technical skills in three TVET institutions in Western Kenya was assessed. The study was governed by the following specific objectives; (i). determine the effect of work-based teaching on the acquisition of technical skills, (ii). examine the effect of tutorials on the acquisition of technical skills, (iii). evaluate the effect of problem-based teaching on the acquisition of technical skills, (iv). assess the effects of project-based teaching on the acquisition of technical skills, (v). evaluate the effect of workshop teaching on the acquisition of technical skills for mechanical engineering students in national polytechnics in the western Kenya region and (vi) evaluate the combined effect of work-based, tutorials, problem-based learning, project-based and workshop training in national polytechnics in western Kenya region. An explanatory research design was used to assess potential challenges/problems associated with the different teaching methods in a random sample of mechanical engineering trainees (248) and trainers (66) in three (Kisii, Kisumu and Sigalagala) national polytechnics in western Kenyan region. Data was collected using structured questionnaires which were self-administered. Inferential and descriptive analysis of data was done by application of SPSS version 25.0. From the results of this research, multiple regressions indicated that teaching methods jointly and independently affected the acquisition of technical skills in mechanical engineering in national polytechnics. A mix of all five teaching methods showed a positive significant effect of 67.1% in the acquisition of technical skills with a beta value of 0.178 for work-based learning, 0.134 for tutorials, 0.164 for problem-based learning, 0.200 for project-based learning and 0.176 for workshop training method. No single method, when used alone was adequate in imparting practical skills to students. The findings imply that national polytechnics should embrace an array of teaching methods complemented by other approaches such as virtual learning and computer-aided learning and proactively formulate policies and resources which support the teaching methods above to improve the acquisition of technical skills among mechanical engineering students.