Student engagement is positively related to performance and persistence, retention and graduation rates. Students with higher level of engagement generally result in better academic performance, higher persistence rate, higher retention rate, and also higher graduation rate. Educators value positive academic outcomes and hence they always look for ways of improving student engagement. The Computing Programme of the Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) has been implementing a wealth of extracurricular activities (ECA) throughout the academic years in an effort to raise the engagement levels of its computing undergraduates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of extracurricular activities participation on the engagement levels of a cohort of students who entered as first-year computing students (n=45) in 2013-14 and they just graduated (n=36) in 2016-17.

This study employed a quantitative-qualitative-mixed methodology. Quantitative data were collected from the Computing Programme Survey of Student Engagement (CPSSE), which was a modified version of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) developed in the USA. The CPSSE was a 30-item paper-and-pencil, self-administered questionnaire in three dimensions. (1) Twenty-six questions with 4-point Likert scale (from 1=poorly engaged to 4=highly engaged) to assess student engagement in 5 different areas : (i) Level of Academic Challenge (LAC); (ii) Active and Collaborative Learning (ACL); (iii) Student-Faculty Interaction (SFI); (iv) Enriching Educational Experiences (EEE); and (v) Supportive Campus Environment (SCF). (2) Three questions with 4-point Likert scale (from 1=very dissatisfied to 4=very satisfied) to look into respondents’ entire educational experience. (3) One open-ended question to probe into respondents’ comments on the best aspect and the aspect most needs improvement in the Computing Programme or Institute. Qualitative data were collected from a follow-up semi-structured interview of three students as case studies.

Numerical data from the CPSSE were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Transcribed interview data were analysed thematically. The Cronbach’s alpha values for the CPSSE on the 2013 entering cohort and the 2017 graduating cohort were found to be 0.70 and 0.72, respectively, which suggested acceptable reliability. Independent-samples t-tests were calculated for each of the five engagement areas across each of the two cohorts. Alpha was established apriori at 0.05. Findings showed that there were significant gains on four of the five engagement areas for the graduating cohort, specifically: Level of Academic Challenge [with t(79)=-5.13, p=0.00.], Active and Collaborative Learning [with t(79)=-3.12, p=0.00], Enriching Educational Experiences [with t(79)=-3.21, p=0.00], and Supportive Campus Environment [with t(79)=-4.05, p=0.00]. There was also an increment in the area Student-Faculty Interaction, but did not reach a statistically significant level [with t(79)=-0.12, p=0.91]. The findings were scrutinized further by a follow-up interview with 18 questions to explore the key themes in greater details. This study revealed what factors in the extracurricular activities enhanced student engagement and therefore suggested that extracurricular activities should be highly valued because they have a positive impact on the engagement level of the computing students. .

Author Profile(s)
Dr. Ines Lau received her BA in English from National Taiwan Normal University in Taiwan, MA in English Language Teaching (with Distinction) from University of Warwick in UK, and PhD in Education from University of Nottingham in UK. Since 2009, she has been teaching English in the Computing Programme at Macao Polytechnic Institute. Her current research interests include Task-based Language Learning, Motivations in English Language Learning, Learner beliefs about English Language Learning, and Educational Psychology.

Dr. Edmund Yung received both his BSc in Mathematical Studies and MSc in Operational Research from the University of London and his EdD from the University of Leicester. Since 1989, he has been teaching mathematics and statistics in the Computer Studies/Computing Programme at the Macao Polytechnic Institute. His current research interest is multivariate data analysis like multiple regression and factor analysis.

Dr. Rita Tse received the Math/Computer Science degree from UCLA and the PhD degree from Hull University in 2004. Since 2006 she has been the Coordinator of the Computer Studies/Computing Programme at the Macao Polytechnic Institute. In 2016, she was promoted to be the Director of the School of Public Administration. Her current research interests include Ubiquitous Computing, Urban Sensing, Social Network-based Sensing, Casino Gaming Systems, and Course Design and Development.