Effects of an Active Learning Approach on Students' Motivation in an Engineering Course

• In Event: 66.057 - Roundtable Session 27
  In Roundtable Session: 66.057-11 - Roundtable Session: Resilience and Motivation

Abstract

Because there are many positive effects of active learning approaches on students’ motivation and achievement, some authors have recommended that these approaches be widely implemented. A research-intensive university located in the Mid-Atlantic US was interested in adopting this instructional technique, and therefore, experimented with it on a small group of students. The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast the effects of this active learning approach on students’ motivation with students in a treatment and control group. The results of multiple independent sample t-tests showed that there were no significant differences between the two groups on several motivation constructs. We provide explanations for the lack of significant differences, as well as discuss limitations and future research.

Authors

• Chosang Tendhar, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

• Kusum Singh, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Brett D. Jones, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University