Examining the Impact of Technology-Based Collaborative Learning on Student Engagement in Higher Education

Technology-based collaborative tools provide a promising strategy to boost student engagement. Yet understanding how these tools impact student engagement and their combined effect, especially in higher education, is underexplored. Thus, this research examines the impact of multiple, technology-based learning tools on student engagement in a course offered to undergraduate students at a selected university. Furthermore, how the students’ attitudes towards technology moderate these relationships was also investigated. The research utilized a quantitative approach, using a standard questionnaire and collecting data from 123 students enrolled in a ‘Business Innovation’ course at the given university. The findings indicate significant positive relationships between the use of technology-based collaborative learning tools and student engagement. Furthermore, students’ attitude towards technology was also found to moderate these relationships. The findings contribute to the field of education technology, offering a comprehensive understanding of how a combination of multiple technology-based tools can impact student engagement. It underlines the significance of considering student attitudes towards technology when designing and planning these learning tools. The findings encourage investment in resources as well as training to support the effective utilisation of technology-based teaching and learning tools in the classroom.