The Impact of Educational Planning on the Integration of Digital Learning and Computer Simulations in Metallurgical Engineering for Sustainable Development
Keywords:
Educational planning, digital learning, computer simulations, metallurgical engineering, sustainability.Abstract
The study examined the role of educational planning in the adoption and integration of digital learning and computer simulations in metallurgical engineering in four selected universities in South-East, Nigeria. The study was guided by four research questions. The population comprised 1,200 undergraduate engineering students from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (350), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (300), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (280), and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (270). No sampling technique was used, as the population was considered manageable. A structured questionnaire, titled: Educational Planning, Digital Learning, and Simulation Questionnaire (EPDLSQ), was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts: one from the Faculty of Education and two from the Faculty of Engineering, all at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The reliability test, using Cronbach’s Alpha method, yielded a coefficient of 0.84, confirming the instrument’s consistency. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, with a decision rule of 3.50 and above for agreement. The findings revealed that educational planning plays a crucial role in the adoption of digital learning and computer simulations in metallurgical engineering. It was also found that digital learning enhances sustainability in metallurgical engineering education by improving resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The study contributes to knowledge by providing empirical evidence on the integration of digital learning in metallurgical education in South-East Nigeria. Based on the findings, it is recommended that higher institutions should develop comprehensive digital learning policies to enhance the integration of computer simulations in metallurgical engineering programs.
References
Adeyemi TO. The role of educational planning in the integration of digital learning in Nigerian higher education. J Educ Dev. 2021;18(3):45–62.
Akinpelu JA, Ogunleye TO. Analyzing the adoption of digital learning in West African universities: The influence of educational planning policies. Afr J Educ Technol. 2023;21(1):112–130.
Anderson J, Williams D. The effectiveness of computer simulations in engineering education: A case study from Europe. Eur J Eng Educ. 2023;29(1):55–72.
Anderson R, Lee T. Digital transformation in engineering education: Challenges and opportunities. Springer; 2023.
Boateng R, Anane E. The impact of strategic educational planning on digital learning integration in Ghanaian universities. Int J Digit Educ. 2022;25(2):89–105.
Bray M, Varghese NV. Planning education reforms: Principles, policies, and practices. Routledge; 2022.
Brown A, Peterson J. Computer simulations as a tool for sustainable metallurgical training: Lessons from the United States. Sustain Eng Rev. 2021;14(2):121–138.
Bertalanffy L von. General system theory: Foundations, development, applications. George Braziller; 1968.
Chen X, Zhang Y, Wang L. Virtual laboratories and simulation-based learning in engineering education. IEEE Trans Educ. 2021;64(3):215–229.
Chen Y, Anderson P, Lee R. Digital learning strategies for sustainable engineering education. J Eng Educ. 2021;110(3):245–260.
Gonzalez L, Rivera J. Sustainable metallurgy: Principles and practices. Springer; 2023.
Gonzalez P, Rivera J. Sustainable metallurgy: The role of digital learning and computer simulations. J Adv Eng Stud. 2023;45(2):101–120.
Hernandez R, Miller D, Cooper T. The role of computer simulations in engineering education: Enhancing student learning outcomes. Int J Eng Res Innov. 2021;15(2):178–192.
Johnson P, Roberts C, Stewart M. Digital learning technologies in higher education: Trends and innovations. Oxford University Press; 2022.
Johnson R, Carter B. The impact of educational planning on sustainable metallurgical practices in the United States. Am J Sustain Eng. 2022;17(3):88–106.
Jones K, Miller S. Advancing sustainable practices in metallurgical engineering education. Mater Sci Eng J. 2022;47(1):85–102.
Jones M, Miller D. Computer-aided instruction and simulation in metallurgical engineering. Int J Eng Educ. 2022;38(4):287–305.
Kumar S, Prasad R. Educational planning and curriculum development for sustainable engineering practices. Routledge; 2022.
Mensah K, Owusu B. Policy implications of educational planning for digital learning in Ghana’s technical universities. Ghan J Educ Res. 2021;15(4):203–219.
Mishra P, Koehler MJ. Technological pedagogical content knowledge: A framework for teacher knowledge. Teach Coll Rec. 2006;108(6):1017–1054.
Moyo N, Dlamini S. The role of educational planning in advancing digital learning in South African tertiary institutions. S Afr J Educ. 2023;40(5):311–330.
Muller H, Schmidt P. Integrating computer simulations in metallurgical engineering curricula: A European perspective. Int Rev Eng Educ. 2021;34(2):99–115.
Murphy L, Scott H. Strategic educational planning: Aligning curriculum with industry needs. Palgrave Macmillan; 2021.
Nkosi T, Phiri L. Digital learning and policy frameworks: Assessing the role of educational planning in South Africa. J E-Learn Policy Stud. 2022;13(3):77–94.
Piaget J. The psychology of intelligence. Routledge; 1950.
Richards C, Evans M. Virtual laboratories and engineering education: A European case study. J Digit Eng Learn. 2023;19(4):150–168.
Smith A, Brown T. Environmental sustainability in metallurgy: Current trends and future directions. Metall Adv J. 2023;58(4):330–345.
Smith B, Brown A. Technological innovations in metallurgical education: Bridging theory and practice. Elsevier; 2023.
Smith T, Nelson K. Digital learning and sustainability: Case studies from metallurgical engineering programs in the United States. J Eng Sustain. 2023;26(1):66–82.
Taylor B. Curriculum development in engineering education: Integrating industry and academia. Cambridge University Press; 2023.
Williams D, Zhao L. Interactive learning in engineering: The impact of digital tools on student performance. J Eng Pedag. 2023;29(3):210–225.
Downloads
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Chukwuemeka Joseph Chukwu, Prince Onyemaechi Nweke, Cynthia Chisom Chukwu, Ezema, Modesta E, Akachukwu Ignatius Nwabueze, Nnamdi Chijioke Anyachebelu, Eke Ndukwe Ukpai
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their published articles online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website, social networks like ResearchGate or Academia), as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Except where otherwise noted, the content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
According to the 