Gaining practical skills through scenario based learning

Increasing time for practical work will equip students with more useful knowledge for their future career. Much better if students can actually involve with some jobs in an environment similar to their future career. However, it is impossible for all students to have chance to engage with suitable companies and work for a short period of time. In this study, a multimedia scenario based learning package, which can be accessed either in the computer or through the Internet, is prepared for a telecommunication course. Telecommunication is now a fast growing industry and it becomes impossible to buy every piece of advanced equipment to train the student. This learning package is to simulate a scenario which is close to the students' future working area.

Using up to date information and multimedia technology, it can simulate issues and conditions similar to those encountered in the field. It will prepare students for difficulties that can occur by allowing them to perform realistic investigations at virtual site using preferred test equipment. Troubleshooting these simulated problems will result in a saving of time and money at actual site. Students can also virtually walk around and realise how the actual working environment should be. They can also take this opportunity to study how different equipment can be interconnected together and how to operate those equipment. Students can use this virtual environment to understand deeper about the operation and the theory behind. They can also have chance to discover the composition of any equipment or product simply by selecting the object on the screen. Further explanation will be displayed in hierarchical way to suit different background of students.

This scenario based learning package is used to support teaching and not to replace teaching in class. The main objective is to let all students have chance to virtually immerse in a scenario to enhance their learning and review knowledge on request. Preliminary study shows that this scenario based learning is well accepted by student and is worth for further study.