by: the Coordinator of the Engineering Education, FKJ

Credit to: AP. Ts. Dr. Mohd Kamaruddin bin Abd Hamid (Deputy Dean - Academics & International, FKJ)

A teaching note is a concise, structured document or visual aid that summarizes key ideas, concepts, or solutions related to a specific topic or problem. It is often used as a learning and teaching tool to enhance understanding and facilitate discussion. In the context of engineering education, teaching notes are typically presented in an infographic format, combining visuals like diagrams and charts with concise textual explanations. They serve as a medium for students to articulate their understanding, analyze problems, and present solutions in a clear and engaging manner, promoting active learning and critical thinking.

Importance of the Teaching Note Activity in Cooperative Learning

The Teaching Note Activity in cooperative learning is an effective approach to address the challenges of understanding complex engineering problems. Its significance lies in:

1. Promoting Individual Accountability: The individual teaching note ensures that each student engages with the problem, fostering deep, personal understanding before collaborating with peers.

2. Encouraging Team Collaboration: The team-teaching note promotes collective problem-solving, critical thinking, and idea synthesis as students work together to refine their understanding.

3. Enhancing Communication Skills: The gallery walk allows teams to showcase their understanding visually, encouraging clear communication and the ability to explain complex ideas to diverse audiences.

4. Supporting Active Learning: This process actively involves students in their learning journey, making them central to the exploration and resolution of engineering challenges.

5. Fostering Critical Thinking: The stepwise approach ensures a thorough analysis of the problem from multiple perspectives, enhancing critical and creative problem-solving skills.

Step-by-Step Procedure for Implementing the Teaching Note Activity

Step 1: Individual Teaching Note (A4 Infographic)

• Objective: To allow students to develop an initial understanding of the engineering problem individually.

• Procedure:

1. 1. Provide the students with a complex engineering problem.

   2. Assign each student to create an individual teaching note in the form of an A4 infographic.

      • Include key concepts, problem statements, assumptions, and preliminary solutions.

   3. Encourage creative visual representation, such as flowcharts, diagrams, and concise explanations.

Step 2: Team Teaching Note (A4 Infographic)

• Objective: To synthesize individual contributions into a cohesive team understanding.

• Procedure:

1. 1. Form teams (4-5 students per team).Each team discusses their individual teaching notes.

   2. Collaboratively, the team develops a unified A4 infographic that incorporates the best ideas and new insights gained from discussion.

      • Include more refined problem analysis, detailed assumptions, collaborative solutions, and justifications.

   3. Encourage teams to ensure clarity, coherence, and effective visual design.

Step 3: Gallery Walk (A2 Infographic)

• Objective: To share insights and foster peer learning through interaction and feedback.

• Procedure:

1. 1. Teams enlarge their teaching notes into A2 infographic format.

   2. Display the A2 teaching notes in a gallery-style format around the classroom or designated space.

   3. Organize a Gallery Walk where teams rotate to view other teams’ work.

      • Teams provide constructive feedback and note key takeaways.

      • Optionally, teams can present their teaching note to peers or faculty members.

   4. Conduct a reflective session where each team integrates feedback and discusses improvements.