Undergraduate Engineering Projects:Improvement through the Use of VLEs

This research study measures the support for learners through the use of a Virtual Learning Environment project website. The website prepares, assists and supports the learners through their Mechanical Engineering Projects in an accredited academic programme. The research question answered was "Is the VLE website helpful to learners in the final years of mechanical engineering projects?" The research focuses on the learners' experiences of using the project website and explores their views regarding the website. The literature relating to the study indicates that similar programmes have had positive results in relation to the adoption of VLEs to support learners.The data collection process involved an initial questionnaire about the website for the quantitative analysis. Thirty-nine project learners from the third and fourth years of the Mechanical Engineering programme participated in the questionnaires. The analysis of the questionnaire results indicated that the project website VLE was very helpful to learners completing their Mechanical Engineering projects. They all used the website for different aspects of the project but they still wanted a lecturer or lecturers to consult with for problems during the course of the project. The kinesthetic learning achieved in the project modules cannot be replicated or replaced by any virtual learning environment. The website afforded the learner to be better prepared for the project start in September. It gives the learner another resource to refer to when they were working at home, during the holidays or when they come to a particular part of the project. The website also teaches the learner to use the internet, videos, screencasts, tutorials, etc. to help them to complete the project.The website has enhanced student learning, motivation, earlier starts to project, peer learning and has improved the quality of projects.