Abstract:

Extensive amount of research has proved that student engagement correlates positively to academic performance and student disengagement leads to poor performance in academics. Not only that but student engagement is also considered as a framework for understanding serious educational concern of student drop out from school all over the world. Also there is lack of literature available on the essential features of an effective learning application to encourage student’s engagement in multi dimensions.

The purpose of this study was to find impact of interactive learning application on student engagement. Since student engagement is a multi-dimensional construct, the learning application was designed to engage learners behaviorally, emotionally and cognitively. The application designed following constructivist learning theory and experiential learning, aimed to teach physics topic of work and energy to grade 9 students. The learning application helped students to construct their own knowledge by solving real life problems. Along with that key findings of this paper will highlight the essential features of an effective learning application needed to engage students in the classroom.

Quasi control experimental research design was followed. One group of students (N=70) followed the traditional method of teaching using the text book and the other group of students (N=70) learned with the help of interactive learning application. Pretest and post test scores of both the groups were coded in SPSS software. Independent t test analysis was run on the data with significance level of 0.05. The result showed that experimental group performed significantly better than the control group.

Keywords:

Interactive, learning, application, student engagement, experience, real life.