Abstract:

In contemporary higher education, enhancing freshmen's engagement in professional courses remains challenging. This study introduces a novel approach by combining Understanding by Design (UbD) with cooperative learning to ignite interest in a foundational Photonic Technology course. UbD establishes clear learning goals through outcome-based education, while cooperative learning promotes teamwork and interaction to improve efficiency. This research evaluates the effectiveness of these strategies in boosting motivation and linking theory with professional practice, contrasting with traditional, abstract engineering education methods.

Utilizing action research, the study focuses on continuous improvement in teaching processes to better student learning habits and outcomes, involving 50 electrical engineering freshmen enrolled in a mandatory Photonic Technology course. The investigation includes three workshops designed to reinforce scientific understanding through practical engagement and critical thinking. The Cyanotype Workshop connects historical and modern imaging technologies, the Science History Workshop examines the Needham Question to encourage exploration of scientific history and philosophy, and the LCD Disassembly Workshop offers hands-on learning about LCD technology fundamentals. Feedback underscores a preference for practical, technology-oriented activities, particularly the LCD workshop, indicating a strong interest in modern technology's practical applications over traditional methods.

The study highlights initial challenges with collaborative learning, which improve over time. Implementing UbD and cooperative learning significantly enhances student engagement and learning outcomes, with workshops on core concepts providing clear benefits over standard lectures. This approach validates the effectiveness of integrating UbD and cooperative learning in higher education, offering valuable insights for curriculum design and teaching in technical fields.

Keywords:

Cooperative Learning, Understanding by Design (UbD), Freshman.