'Ain't nothin' like the real thing'. Motivation and study processes on a work-based project course in information systems design.
BACKGROUND
Advocates of the project method claim that project-based learning inspires student learning. However, it has been claimed that project-based learning environments demand quite a bit of self-regulation on the part of the learner.


OBJECTIVE
Consequently, it was tested whether students scoring low in self-regulation of learning experienced 'friction', an incompatibility between student self-regulation and the demands posed by the learning environment. This would be manifest in cognitive processing and motivation.


METHODS
The target group consisted of 58 mainly third-year Finnish university students taking a mandatory project course in information systems design. During the project course, student teams completed a commissioned assignment. The study also included a matched nonequivalent comparison group composed of computer science students attending study programmes without a project-based component.


METHODS
Data were gathered by means of a questionnaire administered at the beginning and end of the project course and it was analysed by between-groups repeated measures ANOVA. In addition, the students on the course were interviewed.


RESULTS
Results suggest that the work-based project model in question may indeed have a substantial motivational impact, interestingly benefitting especially those students who scored low in self-regulation.


CONCLUSIONS
It is argued that we tend to view learning environments too simplistically. In particular, a basic distinction should be made between individual and collaborative learning contexts, since peer scaffolding, group grading and choice of group roles may explain why students scoring low in self-regulation of learning did not encounter friction as expected.
Helle
Laura
L
University of Turku, Finland. laura.helle@utu.fi
Tynjälä
Päivi
P
Olkinuora
Erkki
E
Lonka
Kirsti
K
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012985:Software Design; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities