SHORT SUMMARY
The study examines the effects of implementing Team-Based Learning (TBL) in a computer science classroom. The research was conducted with 64 students from a Mobile Game Creative Design course and measured three variables: motivation, engagement, and academic achievement. While motivation and engagement remained largely unaffected by TBL, academic achievement showed a significant improvement (p-value = 0.0000271). This suggests that TBL can enhance learning outcomes by focusing on teamwork and active learning.
Key Takeaways
- TBL Implementation Requirements:
- Courses must involve a significant body of information.
- One of the goals should be problem-solving using course content.
- Effectiveness of TBL:
- Academic achievement significantly improved with TBL.
- Motivation and engagement remained unchanged, possibly due to students’ pre-existing high motivation levels and insufficient time to develop team bonds.
- Variables and Measurement:
- Motivation: Measured using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) with six components (e.g., task value, intrinsic motivation).
- Engagement: Evaluated using the Student Engagement Instrument (SEI), covering teacher-student relationships, peer support, and relevance of school work.
- Academic Achievement: Assessed through course-specific multiple-choice tests.
- Findings:
- Pre-test and post-test comparisons showed a notable increase in academic achievement.
- Engagement scores were low due to limited time for team bonding.
- The immersive classroom activities in TBL created an environment that discouraged distractions, improving focus.
- Challenges and Future Directions:
- TBL may not affect motivation if students are already motivated.
- Developing stronger team bonds over a longer period might increase engagement.
- Future research could focus on integrating TBL with information technology to enhance its effectiveness.
- Implications for Education:
- TBL is a promising strategy for improving academic performance, particularly in disciplines requiring collaborative problem-solving.
- A well-structured TBL environment may mitigate student distractions and foster better learning outcomes.
Who Can Benefit from This Research?
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1. Educators and Instructors
- University Professors and Lecturers:
- Those teaching technical and collaborative disciplines like computer science, engineering, and business can adopt TBL to enhance academic achievement.
- Instructors looking to create more engaging and interactive learning environments can utilize the TBL framework.
- Secondary School Teachers:
- Particularly those teaching group-oriented or problem-solving subjects like science, mathematics, and technology.
2. Educational Institutions
- Universities and Colleges:
- Institutions seeking innovative teaching methodologies to improve academic outcomes and create a more engaging curriculum for their students.
- Schools with underperforming programs or low engagement in challenging subjects like programming or data structures.
- Vocational and Training Centers:
- Organizations focused on skill development can use TBL to foster teamwork and practical problem-solving.
3. Researchers
- Educational Researchers:
- This study serves as a baseline for further exploration into the impact of TBL on variables like engagement, motivation, and long-term retention.
- Interdisciplinary Researchers:
- Those studying how active learning strategies can be integrated with technology or other fields like psychology or neuroscience.
4. Students
- Undergraduate and Graduate Students:
- Learners in highly technical and collaborative fields can benefit from active, team-based approaches, especially for applied subjects like game design, mobile app development, or software engineering.
5. Curriculum Designers
- Professionals developing educational frameworks for universities, high schools, or corporate training can utilize the findings to create TBL-based modules that emphasize:
- Collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Immediate feedback loops.
6. Corporate Training Programs
- Organizations Offering Employee Training:
- Companies in tech, engineering, or other fields that require collaborative problem-solving can adapt TBL for onboarding or skill improvement programs.
7. Policymakers in Education
- Government or Private Organizations:
- Policymakers aiming to improve national education standards can use TBL as a model for introducing more active, student-centered learning methodologies.
8. Developers of Learning Technologies
- Companies creating EdTech solutions or platforms can integrate TBL principles into their designs, enhancing collaboration features, progress tracking, and feedback mechanisms.
- University Professors and Lecturers:
