Project Investigator(s): Phaedra Burke, Sessional lecturer, Sauder School of Business
Project Description
The intent of this research is to improve (or strengthen) student engagement in a Flexible Learning course by understanding student interest and motivation in learning. The project will involve quantitative data from questionnaires (students’ background, their interest and motivation), qualitative data from interviews, and other data from observation and documentary analysis (e.g., group work assignment, emails, discussion forums). The goal is to learn is if the level of engagement, interest, motivation changes over the course and if it can be attributed to the online portion of the course.
Research Questions
What are the key course design and pedagogical design elements that lead students in a Flexible Learning Course to be actively engaged in their learning?
Impact on teaching and learning at UBC
As UBC is endeavouring to use Flexible Learning as a modality, we need to continue to conduct research to ensure that students level of engagement with the material and instructor doesn’t change whether they are taking the program in some sort of online delivery or face-to-face. I’ve been changing the structure and learning activities of the Flexible Learning course to help the students be engaged. If this project is successful, a sustainable course design and improved pedagogical practice will be implemented. Accordingly, the number of enrolment can be increased from 50 to a larger number.