SKKK 4413 Biotechnology for Engineers
Final presentation was done for the course and the students did very well.
Some of the topics for the presentation were:
Environmental Biotechnology, Food Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology, Plant Biotechnology and Marine Biotechnology.
Visit to IBD. 14th December 2016.
29 Ogos – Taklimat pentadbiran fakulti bagi cadangan mewujudkan program kejuruteraan kimia dengan bidang kepakaran (specialization)
It’s a wrap! So this week is the last class for Biotechnology for Engineers. Good luck for final exam guys!
So… What is active learning?
The term active learning “was introduced by the English scholar R W Revans (1907-2003).” [1] Bonwell (1991) “states that in active learning, students participate in the process and students participate when they are doing something besides passively listening.” (Weltman, p.7) Active learning is “a method of learning in which students are actively or experientially involved in the learning process and where there are different levels of active learning, depending on student involvement.”(Weltman, p.8) It is a model of instruction that focuses the responsibility of learning on learners. It was popularized in the 1990s by its appearance on the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) report (Bonwell & Eison 1991). In this report they discuss a variety of methodologies for promoting “active learning”. They cite literature which indicates that to learn, students must do more than just listen: They must read, write, discuss, or be engaged in solving problems. It relates to the three learning domains referred to as knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA), and that this taxonomy of learning behaviours can be thought of as “the goals of the learning process” (Bloom, 1956). In particular, students must engage in such higher-order thinking tasks as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.[2] Active learning engages students in two aspects – doing things and thinking about the things they are doing (Bonwell and Eison, 1991). (Source: wikipedia)
This semester for Biotechnology class, I am adapting active learning for the teaching method.
Students are given tasks in group and they have to discuss about the given topic. At the end of the class they will present their group’s findings.
11th October: For the seminar session with SKKB alumni, we have invited Mr. Zennihaqim and Mr. Mohd Izzat Emir to share their experience with our 1st year SKKB students. Mr. Zennihaqim is currently working with Biocon a Biotechnology company producing insulin while Mr. Izzat Emir is working with AJ Pharma a pharmaceutical company based in Kuala Lumpur.
Dr. Siti Hamidah from Department of Chemical Engineering, an SKB alumni, was invited to share her experience with our 1st year students. She is actively involved in research and entrepreneurial project in UTM. One of her famous product is Nature Kiss, a lip gloss made of natural product (roselle).
13th September – For 1st year Seminar class, we have invited SKB Alumni Mr. Wan Izzul Shahiran to come to UTM and share his experience as a student and his career path since he graduated in 2010.
The first seminar class has started on 13th September, where we have invited an alumni from SKB, Mr. Wan Izzul Shahiran to share his experience as a student in this faculty and during his 5 years career. It was a good session and the students get some idea of what to expect from this course.