Improving Learner Experience, Motivation and Knowledge Gain When Using Mulsemedia-Based Technology Enhanced Learning

Lately there is an increasing interest from educators to find solutions to improve student engagement, motivation and academic performance of their students, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. This is as most students believe that STEM subjects are either too challenging or require disproportionate effort for the returned benefit. Diverse technology-enhanced learning (TEL) methods are employed in order to reverse this student perception and attract them to STEM education. This paper studies the impact of multiple sensorial media (mulsemedia)-based learning on postgraduate students from Dublin City University Ireland. The study analyses the impact of this novel TEL method on learner experience, motivation and learning outcome. The results of the study show that academic performance, learning experience, engagement and motivation of the student improve when employing mulsemedia-enhanced learning. More than 80% of the participants in the study stated they have enjoyed the use of mulsemedia during learning and agreed with the fact that mulsemedia is highly motivating for learning. Additionally, about 70% of the participants indicated that they would want to continue to be exposed to mulsemedia-enhanced learning.