Just by being here, you aren't halfway there: Structured active learning and its integration in virtual learning...

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Higher Education Pedagogy

Background:

• Flipped learning models aim to enhance student engagement and motivation.
• Gamification elements can further improve learning experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare a "standard learning" flipped approach with a "structured active learning" strategy.
• To analyze the impact of these approaches on student engagement, participation, and assessment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Two modules were taught over consecutive years using different pedagogical approaches.
• The "structured active learning" approach involved scaffolded activities, continuous feedback, and assessment contributions from participation.
• Student engagement with online materials and participation in learning events were tracked.

Main Results:

• The "structured active learning" approach led to significantly earlier and higher student engagement with pre-released materials (e.g., 90% by week 2 vs. week 5).
• Participation in learning events increased substantially, from 40% to 78% by week 2 in one module.
• Similar trends were observed in a second module with a different student cohort, indicating consistent effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Structured active learning strategies demonstrably improve student engagement and participation in higher education.
• This approach positively influences assessment performance, leading to improved grade profiles.