Transformation of Thinking–Aloud in assessing hands-on psychomotor: A pilot study

Evaluation of laboratory experiences of engineering and engineering technology students has led to an increasing in the attention being paid to the development of students’ psychomotor skills. One of the reasons that psychomotor seems to be less important in the past is because of the lack of suitable measuring tools despite it is important in the engineering and engineering technology course. Furthermore, a current assessment which is using report and test to evaluate the experience of student practice in the laboratory only help in assessing students’ knowledge in cognitive skill. Thus, a new study method is needed to focus on evaluating engineering technology students in terms of their understanding of the component called ‘hands-on practical experience’ during their practical skill classes or experiment. The existing technique for evaluating psychomotor abilities that have emerged from attempts to improve selection in recruitment processes may provide a potentially useful tool for such a purpose. The point of this study is to create a new approach to test a change in practical experience to assess unintentional learning related to classic psychomotor skills in engineering technology laboratory classes. The methodology used to build up the instrument is portrayed and the empirical data collected to support its validity is presented. Thus, this research aims to find a way to measure the practical skill involve in a psychomotor change in an engineering laboratory class.