Abstract:

Engaging students in Zoom sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic is not an easy task. The present study investigates the effect of using online active learning activities on EFL students’ engagement in Zoom sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two intact sections of EFL students enrolled at the Research Methodology course participated in the study. Each section was assigned to a different group: a control group (n=33) and an experimental group (n=30). During a 10-week period, each group attended a weekly 3-hour Zoom session where the control group was taught in the usual method while the experimental group practiced online active learning activities. After the treatment, all participants responded to a questionnaire that measured their student engagement. Scores of students on the engagement questionnaire were analyzed using Independent Samples t-test which revealed a significant difference between the two groups in favor of the experimental group. Therefore, the researchers concluded that online active learning activities can improve EFL students’ engagement in Zoom sessions.

Keywords:

Active learning, online active learning, student engagement, Zoom, COVID-19.