Usage of active learning strategies in engineering education: An example from Sri Lanka

Engineering is a dynamic discipline which needs people to work across other disciplines. Engineers have to adapt to new challenges day by day. Technical know-how, as well as other competencies, such as communication skills, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills are needed for engineers to perform well in this industry. Academic institutions, such as universities hold the main responsibility to produce qualified graduates who are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills expected by industry. Active Learning (AL) is a technique which helps students to acquire skills which are necessary to perform their work successfully. Though it is well accepted, the usage of Active Learning Strategies (ALSs) depends on many factors, such as availability of resources, class size, attitude of instructors, and much more. This study assesses cross disciplinary variations, and variations of different dimensions of ALSs used in a selected state university of Sri Lanka. Discussions and presentations were most popular among the respondents. Project Based Learning (PBL), and case study method are the other popular ALSs. However, educational games and the use of clickers seem to be least important strategies.