The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	Participatory learning: Measuring learning and educational technology acceptance
Author:	Sanchez Suasnabar, Erick
View Online:	njit-etd2021-046 (xxv, 404 pages ~ 4.1 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Informatics
Degree:	Doctor of Philosophy
Program:	Information Systems
Document Type:	Dissertation
Advisory Committee:	Bieber, Michael (Committee co-chair) Hiltz, Starr Roxanne (Committee co-chair) Hsu, Jeffrey (Committee member) Lee, Michael J. (Committee member) Schorr, Roberta (Committee member) Vinnikov, Margarita (Committee member) Wohn, Donghee Yvette (Committee member)
Date:	2021-08
Keywords:	Active learning Instructional technology Participatory learning Peer assessment Peer feedback Technology acceptance model
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	Participatory Learning (PL) integrates several learning approaches, engaging students throughout the entire assignment process for both online and face-to-face courses. Beyond simply providing a solution, students also craft a problem (problem-based learning), grade each other (peer assessment and feedback), evaluate themselves (self-assessment), and can view others’ work (learning by example). This dissertation research explores the resulting learning effects. Contributions to both educational and Information Systems research include extending an early PL model and experiments that applied the PL approach to examinations, by validating and testing new constructs based on user activity and critical thinking. In addition, the study explores a microlearning condition. The study found that the majority of the students enjoyed being part of the PL approach for assignments while also perceiving learning benefits. Students reported learning from crafting problems, solving problems, grading and reading others’ work. The extended PL model was tested and partially validated using Partial Least Squares path modeling and analysis. Recommendations for future work include improving the PL support website and the study protocol. PL has the potential to change the way students engage with their peers and assignments, thereby improving their critical thinking across many disciplines at the university level.