Developing Teaching Materials for the English Aircraft Engineering Course in Skill-based Learning

Abstract

This study focuses on developing effective teaching resources to enhance student learning in Engineering and English Communication courses using a skills-based approach. It applies Thiagarajan’s 4D Research and Development model, which includes the phases of Define, Design, Development, and Dissemination. In the Define phase, learning needs and existing conditions are analyzed to determine appropriate instructional materials. The Design phase involves planning the structure, selecting suitable content, and preparing materials tailored to English for Engineering and Communication. During the Development phase, the resources are produced, tested, evaluated by content and media experts, and revised accordingly. Finally, the Dissemination phase involves sharing the finalized materials with cadets in the Aircraft Maintenance Technology program at Makassar Aviation Polytechnic and presenting them in academic forums. The results show that the developed materials significantly improve students’ English proficiency, especially in reading and speaking. Expert reviews and field testing confirm the effectiveness of the resources in supporting a skills-oriented learning environment. This study underscores the importance of a structured development process in creating relevant and engaging educational content for technical English instruction.