Motivating engineering students learning via monitoring in personalized learning environment with tagging system

Abstract

ABSTRACTPersonalized Learning Environment (PLE) is a novel pedagogical approach, which has caused a paradigm shift in tertiary education. In this study, a computer‐based PLE system was developed for undergraduate engineering students to help them learn a topic in a Wireless Communications course. The study used a mixed‐method approach, involving interviews and administration of questionnaires, to examine the impact of the system on students’ motivation, and the role of instructors as a motivator. The research instrument used was Science motivation questionnaire (SMQ). The analysis of the data yielded several promising results, notably the students were motivated in learning process using the system and the instructors were satisfied that they could perform the monitoring and motivating tasks effectively. Overall, the findings suggest that such a system has a strong potential to create an effective, appealing PLE to help engineering students engage in learning process with a strong sense of motivation and interest. The study also found out that students exhibited high assessment anxiety and low self‐efficacy in self‐directed learning, thus emphasizing the need to provide them with more guidance and assistance.