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Pedagogical Material Development and Curriculum Assessment To Enhance Non-Destructive Inspection in Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) Abstract

This paper presents results from curriculum enhancements implemented at an Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) program to improve the learning process of students through creation of educational materials, assessment tools and curriculum redesign. Using Bloom's Taxonomy in cognitive and psychomotor domains, course objectives were refined to create more meaningful student outcomes. These were mapped to reflect the expected student proficiency and goals as advised by regulatory agencies. These include the guidelines stipulated by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). We identified course objectives for six course modules currently taught in an aircraft maintenance program at a 2-year technical college: ACM 120 (Materials & Corrosion Control), ACM 167(Landing Gear Systems), ACM 174 (Airframe Inspection), ACM 210 (Reciprocating Engine Overhaul), ACM 224 (Turbine engine Overhaul), and ACM 226 (Engine Inspections). For these modules, each objective was analyzed under Bloom's Taxonomy's sub-domains. These include knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation under the broad cognitive domain and initiation, manipulation, precision, articulation and naturalization under the psychomotor domain. Through an iterative process, course objectives were refined for the six course modules and objectives were transformed to outcomes. The curriculum material development process was extended to identify new non-destructive inspection (NDI) simulators to be incorporated in classroom activities and learning processes. These interactive 3D knowledge objects based simulators are expected to be integrated in the AMT curriculum to improve the learning outcomes. A thorough statistical analysis will be carried out to evaluate the student outcomes through the enhanced curriculum. A novel Excel based decision support system, which will be used for the curriculum design and as an assessment tool/template using Visual Basic for Application (VBA) is proposed as future work.

1. Introduction

The Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) curriculum is the backbone of training and educating maintenance technicians for the aviation industry to function in safe operating conditions. In complex environmental conditions due to growth in air traffic, economy and population, the competencies and skills required by the aircraft technicians is significant10. Therefore, it is the responsibility of training institution and AMT curriculum to find means to enhance student learning to satisfy this national need10.

The purpose of this NSF ATE funded 3-year study is to develop pedagogical materials, assessment tools and training aids using virtual reality (VR) technology to be used in AMT programs. The study focuses on Greenville AMT program. This 2- year technical college is equipped with state-of-the-art technology facilities, a hangar with multiple aircrafts and an educational environment designed to produce cross-trained aircraft maintenance technicians who are capable of working with complex aircraft systems.

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Rupasinghe, T., & Kurz, M. B., & Washburn, C., & Gramopadhye, A., & Vembar, D., & Sadasivan, S. (2009, June), Pedagogical Material Development And Curriculum Assessment To Enhance Nondestructive Inspection In Aircraft Maintenance Technology (Amt) Paper presented at 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition, Austin, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--5247