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Вовлеченность учащихся в изучение программирования: использование мобильных игр в дополнительном образовании
The importance of student engagement in the learning process is widely recognized during the last years. Engagement has shown positive relationships with various crucial aspects of learning both in traditional and online learning environments. However, there exists a research gap pertaining to engagement in non-formal learning contexts.
This paper investigates the students' engagement in STEM learning and its relationship with contextual factors, employing the example of out-of-school activities and engagement in a mobile game designed to teach programming skills.
The results show that students' engagement in STEM learning in extracurricular education is positively correlated with online engagement measured through mobile game activity. Furthermore, student engagement in the mobile game demonstrates a significant relationship with the behavioral and emotional components of engagement, but not with the cognitive component. Additionally, it is revealed that the perception of the tasks offered serves as a significant contextual factor influencing engagement in both out-of-school and mobile game contexts. Moreover, peer communication exhibits a significant relationship with engagement in out-of-school classes, but not in the single-player mobile game. These findings highlight the potential of collaborative and multiplayer scenarios for edutainment games.
This study enriches engagement theory by applying it to the realm of non-formal education and edutainment. The findings hold particular relevance in light of ongoing initiatives aimed at engaging children and adolescents in STEM learning, as well as fostering their interest in science and technology, and may contribute to the development of more effective policies and programs in the field of STEM education.