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Undergraduate Students' Motivation to Learn, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Assessments in a Cybersecurity Course

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Conference

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Publication Date

August 23, 2022

Start Date

June 26, 2022

End Date

June 29, 2022

Conference Session

Computing & Information Technology Division Technical Session 4

Page Count

13

DOI

10.18260/1-2--41883

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/41883

Download Count

215

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Paper Authors

biography

Tahir Khan

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Dr. Tahir M. Khan is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Technology at the Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He is currently teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students majoring in Cybersecurity. He has experience in developing and offering courses in the cybersecurity domain. His research interests include computer privacy, computer security, computer forensics, cybersecurity, the internet of things, cloud computing, and scholarship of teaching and learning.

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Emily Bonem

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Hyun Jin Cho

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Abstract

The theoretical framework of self-determination theory (SDT) [1], [2] suggests that providing a learning environment which supports students' autonomy, competence and relatedness promotes students' autonomous motivation and desirable learning outcomes. To promote choice and autonomy in a cyber forensic course at a large research university, students were given a variety of assessment options in place of their regular high-stakes exams. Based on the principles of SDT theory, we hypothesized that meeting the students need for autonomy through these assessment choices would increase students' motivation to learn and lead to a better understanding of the learning materials. We also explored students' perceptions of the multiple assessment options and their reasoning for choosing their preferred option. A mixed-method approach was used to explore students’ perspectives about their learning experiences related to different assessment methods. Findings revealed that students’ autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs were correlated with the autonomous form of motivation (i.e., intrinsic, integration, and identification). Furthermore, students’ basic needs and autonomous motivation were correlated with students’ adaptive beliefs about assessment. The qualitative results showed that students had reasons varied based on the type of format they chose for their exam.

Khan, T., & Bonem, E., & Cho, H. J. (2022, August), Undergraduate Students' Motivation to Learn, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Assessments in a Cybersecurity Course Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41883

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