3How do constructivism learning environments generate better motivation and learning strategies? The Design Science Approach

Abstract

Higher education strongly focuses on shifting from a more traditional teaching approach - "instructivist" to a more student-centered approach - known as "constructivist" to encourage learning imperative key skills in a future turbulent environment. This study examines the application of new learning environment creation, integrated from applying the Design Science approach and Constructivism learning environment, on two critical elements of student evaluation, namely, students' learning motivation and their learning strategy in higher institutions. Quantitative research was adopted for the study. To do so, a new teaching and learning approach was developed and implemented specifically for one cohort. Instead of regularly joining a regular classroom, students can actively attend workshops to gain the skills, knowledge, and action they need to complete the course successfully. Following three months of implementation, 193 questionnaires were collected from all students who took a Project Management course. The data show that a constructivist learning environment encourages intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Additionally, the student's learning strategy significantly improved in the new learning environment. These findings demonstrate that further attention should be given to constructivist orientation and implementation in the higher education curriculum.

Keywords: Constructivist learning environments (CLEs); Design science; Extrinsic learning goal; Intrinsic learning goal; Learning strategy; Student motivation.

Fig. 1

Analytical framework for course design (Source: Research Team, 2022).

Fig. 2

Suggested research model (Source: Research Team).

Fig. 3

A learning environment mini–ecosystem (Source: Research Team).

Fig. 4

SEM results (source: Research team).