Challenging the future: Development of students’ multimodal competencies by designing an online exhibition

Abstract

Because of the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, pedagogy has increasingly depended on educational technology. Accordingly, this study explored university students’ perception of the implementation of project-based learning (PBL) for the use of technology and development of multimodal competencies. A PBL-based elective course was introduced at a university in Taiwan, in which participating students designed an online English exhibition. Through the design-based approach of the intervention and guided by graphical notations, the participants learned how to organize an online exhibition by implementing professional knowledge and technology. This study qualitatively investigated the participants’ performance and reflections on PBL. Designing the online exhibition enhanced the participants’ knowledge about meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions and their English skills. This approach further improved pedagogy and enhanced the participants’ practical experience in organizing an online event.