A systemic approach to leveraging student engagement in collaborative learning to improve online engineering education. (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qiu, Robin G.
• Is Part Of: International journal of technology enhanced learning. Volume 11:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: online engineering education -- collaborative learning -- pedagogy of engagement -- professional education; Educational technology -- Periodicals; Education -- Effect of technological innovations on -- Periodicals; Web-based instruction -- Periodicals; Computer-assisted instruction -- Periodicals; 371.3305
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1753-5255

Abstract

Online higher education is transformative and quite different from residential college education. Lacking effective and consistent pedagogical engagement has been criticised for a high drop-out rate in the online education in general. This study aims to find a solution to facilitate learning engagement in an online engineering education setting. By relying on the known knowledge in the pedagogies of engagement in college education, this paper proposes a systemic framework for promoting positive online students' learning engagement. Different from empirical studies of conducting hypothesis tests, we show a practical and model-driven approach to assessing and enhancing problem-based collaborative teaching/learning practices. The proposed framework is explored through both a pilot test and a confirming test. Rules of thumb are identified and generalised, which could be used to help students/instructors retune their collaborative practices in a proactive manner for retaining positive and effective learning engagement in an online engineering education setting.