Factors influencing engagement in project-based learning among college EFL speakers

There has been a surge in the popularity of project-based learning (PBL) as an instructional approach in foreign language education. However, despite the increasing body of research on students’ engagement in PBL, the focus on exploring engagement in PBL from a multi-dimensional perspective remains...

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Main Authors: Zhong, Jianer, Ismail, Lilliati, Ahmad, Norhakimah Khaiessa
Format: Article
Published: Society for Research and Knowledge Management 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/106260/
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author Zhong, Jianer
Ismail, Lilliati
Ahmad, Norhakimah Khaiessa
author_facet Zhong, Jianer
Ismail, Lilliati
Ahmad, Norhakimah Khaiessa
author_sort Zhong, Jianer
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description There has been a surge in the popularity of project-based learning (PBL) as an instructional approach in foreign language education. However, despite the increasing body of research on students’ engagement in PBL, the focus on exploring engagement in PBL from a multi-dimensional perspective remains limited. Based on Reeve’s student engagement framework, an explanatory mixed methods design was employed to evaluate college English as a Foreign Language (EFL) speakers’ engagement (behavioural, emotional, cognitive and agentic) and elucidate the factors influencing engagement in PBL. For this study, 151 students from a polytechnic in China were recruited as participants, and a questionnaire was employed to examine the four dimensions of engagement in PBL among them. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 students to understand their perspectives on how PBL has impacted their engagement levels. An analysis of the questionnaire data by descriptive statistics revealed that behavioural engagement ranked highest, followed by emotional, cognitive and agentic engagement. The interview data, analysed by thematic analysis, identified the factors influencing the four engagement dimensions of PBL, which were then categorised as positive (e.g., interest, group dynamics, topics and task types, etc.) and negative (e.g., weak English proficiency, introverted personality, fear of failure, etc.) factors. The findings provided insights into the four types of engagement and the factors influencing these dimensions. This study has educational implications for foreign language teachers as it will help them to find ways to engage college EFL students in PBL speaking activities and optimise the PBL environment.
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spelling upm-1062602024-05-12T10:49:50Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/106260/ Factors influencing engagement in project-based learning among college EFL speakers Zhong, Jianer Ismail, Lilliati Ahmad, Norhakimah Khaiessa There has been a surge in the popularity of project-based learning (PBL) as an instructional approach in foreign language education. However, despite the increasing body of research on students’ engagement in PBL, the focus on exploring engagement in PBL from a multi-dimensional perspective remains limited. Based on Reeve’s student engagement framework, an explanatory mixed methods design was employed to evaluate college English as a Foreign Language (EFL) speakers’ engagement (behavioural, emotional, cognitive and agentic) and elucidate the factors influencing engagement in PBL. For this study, 151 students from a polytechnic in China were recruited as participants, and a questionnaire was employed to examine the four dimensions of engagement in PBL among them. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 students to understand their perspectives on how PBL has impacted their engagement levels. An analysis of the questionnaire data by descriptive statistics revealed that behavioural engagement ranked highest, followed by emotional, cognitive and agentic engagement. The interview data, analysed by thematic analysis, identified the factors influencing the four engagement dimensions of PBL, which were then categorised as positive (e.g., interest, group dynamics, topics and task types, etc.) and negative (e.g., weak English proficiency, introverted personality, fear of failure, etc.) factors. The findings provided insights into the four types of engagement and the factors influencing these dimensions. This study has educational implications for foreign language teachers as it will help them to find ways to engage college EFL students in PBL speaking activities and optimise the PBL environment. Society for Research and Knowledge Management 2024-01 Article PeerReviewed Zhong, Jianer and Ismail, Lilliati and Ahmad, Norhakimah Khaiessa (2024) Factors influencing engagement in project-based learning among college EFL speakers. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 23 (1). pp. 318-338. ISSN 1694-2493; ESSN: 1694-2116 https://ijlter.net/index.php/ijlter/article/view/1845 10.26803/ijlter.23.1.16
spellingShingle Zhong, Jianer
Ismail, Lilliati
Ahmad, Norhakimah Khaiessa
Factors influencing engagement in project-based learning among college EFL speakers
title Factors influencing engagement in project-based learning among college EFL speakers
title_full Factors influencing engagement in project-based learning among college EFL speakers
title_fullStr Factors influencing engagement in project-based learning among college EFL speakers
title_full_unstemmed Factors influencing engagement in project-based learning among college EFL speakers
title_short Factors influencing engagement in project-based learning among college EFL speakers
title_sort factors influencing engagement in project-based learning among college efl speakers
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/106260/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/106260/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/106260/