Research Projects

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Research

CED’s Educational Research Group

Academic research forms an important part of the Centre’s identity and underpins much of our core work. Our ambition is to become the hub for PBL research in Asia.

Educational Research encompasses many different studies all of which attempt to better understand and improve the learning and educational process in RP. The research revolves around six focus areas, which are: (1) Research on the learning processes, (2) Research on facilitation, (3) Research on curriculum materials, (4) Research on assessment, (5) Research on staff development programme, and (6) Research on outcomes of polytechnic education.

Key research projects for 2011/2012

Currently there are 11 studies that are being undertaken in the six focus areas. Below is a listing of these eleven studies. If you would like to know more about these projects please feel free to contact the principal investigator.

Focus Area (1) Learning Processes in RP

Leveraging on e-learning: Pilot e-learning modules at Republic Polytechnic (Principal investigator: Samon Tan, (samson_tan@rp.edu.sg) Status: In Progress

Exploring for an Effective Approach in Educating Youths on Financial Literacy (Principle Investigator: Ella Siu, ella_siu@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Research on motivational level for two different CIE modules (Principle Investigator: Nah Seok Ling, nah_seok_ling@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Sources of Mathematics Self-Efficacy Influencing Academic Performance of Engineering Students (Principle Investigator: Kelvin Loo, kelvin_loo@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Focus Area (2) Facilitation in RP

How do tutor-related behaviours affect student learning? (Principal Investigator: Esther Chng, esther_chng@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Student's Perception of Facilitator-Related Behaviour (Principal Investigator: Elaine Yew, elaine_yew@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Focus Area (3) Curriculum Materials

A study of teachers’ approaches to designing a constructivist curriculum (Principle Investigator: Rachel Ong, rachel_ong@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Focus Area (4) Assessment

What informs the daily grade (Principal Investigator: Glen O’Grady, glen_ogrady@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Focus Area (5) Staff Development Programme

Impact of a compulsory 104-hour staff development programme on new academic staff at a Problem Based Learning Institution (Principal Investigator: Lisa Lim and Jeanette Choy, lisa_lim@rp.sg, jeanette_choy@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Key research projects for 2010/2011

Currently there are thirteen studies that are being undertaken in the six focus areas. Below is a listing of these thirteen studies. If you would like to know more about these projects please feel free to contact the principal investigator.

Focus Area (1) Research on the Learning Processes in RP

Is my classroom learning environment constructivist in nature? (Principal investigator: Yip Meng Fai, yip_meng_fai@rp.sg). Status: In Progress

Study of the psychological measures relating to student performance in Engineering (Principle Investigator: Yap Choon Seng, yap_choon_seng@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

The role of facilitation in PBL with an e-support structure (Principle Investigator: Tirzah Kengoo, tirzah_kengoo@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Focus Area (3) Research on Curriculum Materials

Assessing the quality of problems in a PBL module (Principal Investigator: Yip Meng Fai, yip_meng_fai@rp.sg) Status: Completed

Students' perception of the usefulness of a CSCL tool module (Principal Investigator: Yip Meng Fai, yip_meng_fai@rp.sg) Status: Completed

PBL pedagogical approaches to teaching music (Principal Investigator: Mark Doliveira, mark_doliveira@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Effect of worksheet scaffolds in Problem-Based Learning (Principle Investigator: Serene Choo, serene_choo@rp.sg) Status: Completed

Focus Area (4) Research on Assessment

What informs the daily grade (Principal Investigator: Glen O’Grady, glen_ogrady@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Focus Area (5) Research on Staff Development Programme

Focus Area (6) Outcomes of Polytechnic Education

Focus Area (6) Research on Outcomes of Polytechnic Education. How successful are RP graduates (Principal Investigator: Violet Chan, Lisa Lim and Jeanette Choy, violet_chan@rp.sg, lisa_lim@rp.sg, jeanette_choy@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Research on professional identity (Principal Investigator: Tan Chin Pei, tan_chin_pei@rp.sg) Status: In Progress

Key research projects for 2009/2010

The research revolves around five focus areas, which are: (1) Research on PBL problems, (2) Research on facilitation in PBL, (3) Research on the underlying learning processes in PBL, (4) Research on assessment in PBL, and (5) Research on staff development.

Currently there are nine studies that are being undertaken in three of the five focus areas. Below is an overview of these nine studies. If you would like to know more about these projects please feel free to contact the principal investigator.

Focus Area (2) Research on facilitation in PBL

Students’ perception of teaching (Principal investigator: Judith Williams, judith_william@rp.sg). Duration: 12 months.

Teachers’ perspectives on teaching (Principal investigator: Judith Williams, judith_william@rp.sg). Duration: 12 months.

Focus Area (3) Research on the underlying learning processes in PBL

Situational interest and subject domain differences (Principal investigator: Jerome Rotgans, jerome_rotgans@rp.sg). Duration: 12 months.

Facilitator influences on situational interest in an active-learning environment (Principal investigator: Jerome Rotgans, jerome_rotgans@rp.sg). Duration: 12 months.

The influences of the problem format in triggering situational interest in PBL (Principal investigator: Tan Chin Pei, tan_chin_pei@rp.sg). Duration: 24 months.

Ego-resiliency and the use of learning strategies at RP (Principal investigator: Tan Chin Pei, tan_chin_pei@rp.sg). Duration: 24 months.

Relationship between approaches to learning and achievement (Principal investigator: Jeanette Choy, jeanette_choy@rp.sg). Duration: 12 months.

Challenges faced by high and low achieving first-year students in a PBL environment (Principal investigator: Lisa Lim, lisa_lim@rp.sg). Duration: 12 months.

Focus Area (5) Research on staff development

A systematic evaluation of professional development programmes (Principal investigator: Lisa Lim, lisa_lim@rp.sg). Duration: 24 months.