A Motivational 3D EdTech in Online Education: Digital Exhibition Space.

Abstract

University classes are globally transferring into online format due to COVID-19 and instructors are facing various challenges like lack of motivation, insufficient peer interaction and disengagement etc. This paper introduces a digital exhibition space, utilising 3D technology to create an authentic communal learning environment for students, where student participation and contribution in online activities are positively driven and motivated via explorative, visualized and socialized learning experiences. To investigate the motivational perspectives of digital exhibition space, interview data with 13 undergraduate students from a large-scale online class was collected and analyzed by the team using deductive content analysis based on the tripartite model of intrinsic motivation. Results indicate that the integration of digital exhibition space in the online course addresses motivational mechanisms and thereby fosters student intrinsic motivation and engaged learning behaviours. The findings of this study validate the design and functional purpose of digital exhibition space, and provides theoretical support for broader application of this platform in various disciplines.