10/12/2020

Fostering Student Engagement

PURPOSE: Student engagement is a key element needed to maximize effects of edtech programs to help build academic skills in students. This brief illustrates how motivational theory has informed the design of Core5, and how program data and user feedback have been used to iteratively redesign Core5 to promote student engagement. 

METHOD: Lexia researchers reviewed literature on motivation theory to identify and implement key design features to bolster student engagement with Core5. In addition, Lexia researchers examined student program data and user feedback to identify areas in which program features or activities were potentially demotivating and/or impeding student progress. In each case, changes were made to Core5 to address the areas of concern and thus improve student engagement. 

KEY FINDINGS 

• Modifications were made to a difficult “Rhyming” activity to improve student performance and reduce demotivation. 
• Limits on how often students could access “Fun Facts” helped create a balance between use of this motivation feature and regulating its potential overuse. 
• Reductions in repetitive instructions resulted in students showing increased progress through Core5. 
• Reprogramming Core5 so students did not lose credits after receiving scaffolded support was designed to help boost their perception of competence.