Motivating engineering students to engage in learning computer programming

Abstract

Motivation is essential for successful engagement in learning. This factor is especially important in courses that are considered difficult and require high cognitive engagement such as computer programming. One of the approaches to motivate engineering students in learning is to create an effective learning environment. This paper presents a qualitative study on undergraduate engineering students’ motivation towards learning programming based on the How People Learn (HPL) framework. The HPL framework comprises of elements that can be considered by instructors to design an effective learning environment. The methods designed for this study are observations and interviews while thematic analysis is employed in analysing the data. Findings based on lenses of the HPL framework are presented. Several recommendations for improving the learning environment are summarized as part of the outcomes of the study.