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Virtual vs. In-Person Learning: A Study on Student Motivation, Experience, and Perception in a First-Year Introduction to Engineering Course

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Conference

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Location

Virtual Conference

Publication Date

July 26, 2021

Start Date

July 26, 2021

End Date

July 19, 2022

Conference Session

First-Year Programs: Virtual Instruction in the First Year III

Tagged Division

First-Year Programs

Page Count

14

DOI

10.18260/1-2--38028

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/38028

Download Count

1307

Paper Authors

biography

Chao Wang Arizona State University

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Chao Wang received her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is currently a senior lecturer in Ira. A Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.

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Abstract

This complete evidence-based practice paper examines virtual and in-person student’s situational motivation responses as well as their experience and perception of virtual and in-person learning in a freshman Introduction to Engineering course. During the Fall semester of 2020, the Introduction to Engineering course was offered in a synchronous hybrid mode. While all lectures were delivered through Zoom video conferencing software, students had the choice to join labs either virtually or in-person. Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) survey, an instrument to measure four types of motivation (intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation and amotivation) based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), was administered weekly to students enrolled in three sections of the course during a nine-week project period. A Basic Needs Satisfaction Scale survey was given at the end of the semester, which measures the satisfaction of three fundamental psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness and competence. An additional set of survey questions on student’s experience and perception of virtual and in-person learning was also given at the end of the semester. Survey results reveal that although no significant difference is observed between virtual and in-person students’ perceived basic needs satisfaction, in-person learners show slightly higher motivation compared to virtual learners, and students overwhelmingly prefer in-person over virtual learning.

Wang, C. (2021, July), Virtual vs. In-Person Learning: A Study on Student Motivation, Experience, and Perception in a First-Year Introduction to Engineering Course Paper presented at 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual Conference. 10.18260/1-2--38028

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