DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT International Workshop on PBL in MET June 1-3, 2003 Izmir TURKEY How do Cadets Feel about PBL ? Presented by Selçuk NAS

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Every PBL specialist know that the PBL curriculum is a changing of the educational environment. Students are effected by this change. An educational specialist should define the effect of changing on students because of the success of changing.

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT This research will light the way for achievement of the changing of the educational environment. For this purpose, the perceptions of students are measured by the qualitative techniques. This study covers only the first step of research

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT PBL students need to manage change because what you are doing is a change from what they are used to; [Woods, D.R. 1996]. Student resistance to the inevitable stress of such change is to be expected. [Åkerlind, Trevitt, 1999 ].

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT In general, reaction to the change is called a resistance by some of the researchers. In this research the word of maladaptation will be used instead of resistance. This environmental change is not only physical but also social. In this respect the word of adaptation or maladaptation is suitable for environmental changing.

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Students who perceive their learning environment more positively are more likely to develop desirable approaches to learning and are more likely to be successful than those who perceive it less positively. Students' perceptions of the learning environment influence their selection of learning approaches, which are correlated with their academic achievement. [Pimparyon, P., Poonchai, B. 2000].

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Disciplines must be aware of student expectations and aspirations, and be able to respond in a variety of ways to student and societal needs. Institutions need to be able to respond through the systems they have in place, efficient organization and planning, curriculum structures and through teaching strategies [Naidoo, Kibashini, Searle, Ruth 1999].

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Learning depends on several factors, but a crucial step is the engagement of the learner. This is affected by their motivation and perception of relevance [Hutchinson 2003]. If the students’ or cadets perceptions or/and expectations are measured regularly, educational environment can be well designed and maladaptation situations will not be faced when the new curriculum is designed, especially PBL.

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Objective The purpose of this study is to measure how the cadets feel about PBL. The cadets on whom the first PBL curriculums are implemented on, are the class 1 deck department students. The perception of PBL will be explored by qualitative techniques.

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Methodology Questionnaire The questionnaire applied is constituted of seven open-ended questions. These questions are aimed at exploring the perceptions of the cadets in PBL. What were you feeling at the beginning of the PBL curriculum? Could you adapt to the PBL curriculum at the very beginning? What were the reasons for your maladaptation to the PBL curriculum? What do you feel about the PBL curriculum just now? Have you adapted the PBL curriculum up to now? What are the reasons for your adaptation to the PBL curriculum? If you were a PBL curriculum designer, what kind of activities would you put in to practice to get easy adaptation to the PBL curriculum?

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Sample The sample has been chosen among the cadets who are the students of the Dokuz Eylül University, School of Maritime Business and Management, Deck Department, Class 1. The cadets on whom the first PBL curriculum has been implemented, are all Turkish citizens. The questionnaire has been applied in the middle of the term (after 7 th. module).

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Evaluation and Results - 1 At the beginning of the term, 6% of the cadets adapted the PBL curriculum. In the middle of the term, the adaptation ratio increased to 75%.

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Evaluation and Results - 2 Major reasons of the enormous maladaptation ratio at the beginning of the term Conflicts with students’ past educational experiences and current conceptions of learning. Inability to find spare time for the social activities. Mother tongue and Learning language was different. PBL curriculum required regular study. Implementation of PBL curriculum was not understood clearly. Mostly, learning facilities are based on computer Being the first cadets on whom the first PBL curriculum was implemented on.

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Evaluation and Results - 3 Major causes of decreasing maladaptation ratio in the middle of the term. Get used to studying in PBL curriculum. Influence of the moderator. Studying with a small group. Attractiveness of research. Mostly, learning facilities are based on computer. Attractiveness of the cases, problems and topics in the scenario.

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Evaluation and Results - 4 The answer of “If you were a PBL curriculum designer, what kind of activities would you put in to practice to get easy adaptation to the PBL curriculum?” is the most interesting. Mostly, cadets complain about not being able to find spare time. If I were a PBL curriculum designer, I would organize social activities. If I were a PBL curriculum designer, I would eliminate the obligation for attendance in the activities.

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Conclusion 1 This research may enlighten the way for understanding the affect of changing of the educational environment. Even this research is the first steps of general research, some of the results are attracting attention. This questionnaire must be applied again at the end of the term. Than changing of perceptions must be focused. Lastly, new quantities of the questionnaire can be developed according to the result.

DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MARITIME BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Conclusion 2 If the students’ or cadets perceptions or/and expectations are measured regularly, PBL curriculum designer can take precaution to maladaptation. Thus the educational environment of the cadets are more positive and more likely to develop desirable approaches to learning and are more likely to be successful than the cadets who don’t know what they feel about PBL.