The impact of online teaching on students’ engagement in writing during the pandemic of Covid-19

Abstract

COVID-19 has dramatically changed the process of teaching, as educational institutions replaced in-person teaching with online teaching to ensure educational continuity while managing the spread of the contagious disease. Drawing on the multifaceted concept of engagement, engagement is addressed as a sole construct. The present study adapted Student Course Engagement Questionnaire (SCEQ) to explore the impact of online teaching through Blackboard on English as foreign language (EFL) college students’ engagement in writing. The study sample included 148 students. The results of the present non-experimental study generally indicated that online learning through Blackboard positively influenced the engagement of Saudi EFL learners. However, it is essential to note that the students showed a high level of engagement in terms of skills engagement. In contrast, the levels of engagement were moderate for the other three elements of engagement: Emotional, participation/interaction, and performance. The findings also demonstrated that the students perceived the learning experience positively. The participants valued the various virtues offered by online learning platforms, specifically Blackboard. Consequently, it is recommended that using Blackboard features such as blogs, breakout groups, and videoconferencing will help foster educational practices locally and internationally.