The use of ubiquitous sensor technology in evaluating student thought process during practical operations for improving student technical and creative skills

This study investigated a Ubiquitous Sensor System (USS) that we developed to assess student thought process during practical lessons on a real-time basis and to provide students with a reflective learning environment. Behavioral curves and data obtained by the USS would help students understand where they had made mistakes during practical lessons and the exact times when incorrect process parameters were observed. This research was conducted during a course on manufacturing. The results indicated that the proposed USS was effective in improving student analysis and evaluation skills in manufacturing thinking, as well as the three psychomotor skills of guided response, mechanism and complex overt response. Student psychomotor skills also gained an overall improvement. Results also showed that improvements in student thought process also helped in the learning of psychomotor skills and that the USS helped improve the clarity of student thought process during practical operations. The improved clarity of thought allowed students to understand the reasons behind their thought process for them to make the necessary logical deductions. Through repeated reflection and practice, students would then be able to create works with personal creative elements.