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INTRODUCTION: A well-developed course in accordance with sound instructional design principles and successfully delivered multiple times in a traditional face-to-face classroom mode failed to stimulate students' motivation to learn in an online delivery mode amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. This paper contributes by presenting a case study on the application of ARCS models to enhance efficacy of an online course and students engagement.OBJECTIVES: A motivational framework based on the processes outlined in the ARCS model, implemented, and tested using a single-case study.METHODS: A cohort of seventy-five undergraduate students aged between 24 to 29 years from different program majors enrolled in a six-week mandatory IT in Business course participated in this research. A blend of a traditional flipped classroom and gamified teaching methodologies were applied in alignment with the ARCS model's four motivational factors: attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction, associated process, and strategies. Before, during, and after treatment surveys based on the original Instructional Material Motivation Survey (IMMS) with 36 questions were conducted to determine the effectiveness of blended teaching methodologies (BTM) on students' motivation. RESULTS:The BTM based on the ARCS model, process, and strategies have enhanced and/or sustained students' motivation and kept the subject interesting in an online environment, and ultimately improved their learning.CONCLUSION: An adaptive implementation of BTM aligned with ARCS models, process, and associated strategies can enable the enhancement and/or sustainability of students' motivation. The lecturers or designer should identify the right combination of BTM and activities through iterative motivational feedback of the students during course delivery.

The importance of formal online education has been felt like never before because of the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers and academics are continuously experimenting with combinations of established pedagogies, tools, and technologies to enhance or sustain the student learning process and motivation. For this study, we have designed and developed a multi-player game called CrossQuestion to explore the combined effect of applying gamification and flipped classroom pedagogies using the ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction) model guidelines and its application in the obligatory IT foundation online course during the pandemic. We delivered this course to 79 undergraduate (mostly) non-IT students in Ajman University, UAE. Students were randomly divided into a non-gamified cohort (35 students gone through lecture-based instructions and paper-based assessments-Spring 2019-20-pre-COVID-19 face to face environment) and a gamified flipped classroom cohort (44 students, played the CrossQuestion game-Spring 2020-21-during COVID-19 online environment). We collected the survey data anonymously through our customized Instructional Materials Motivation Survey (IMMS) tool and then performed descriptive analysis, t-test, and regression analysis to address the research hypothesis. We found a significant relationship between learning motivational factors and learning effectiveness. We also found the positive influence of our game on students' motivation.

This paper explores the effect of applying gamification and flipped classroom approaches through our group-based assessment game, the CrossQuestion, in the course of IT in Business. The course teaches basic IT fundamentals and their application in different functional areas of business and management. In Spring 2020-21, we delivered this course through Moodle platform, integrated with the Zoom video communication tool, to introduce the CrossQuestion game as supplemental resources to engage students. We conducted measurements using the Instructional Materials Motivation Survey scales to verify the game's learning effect. We divided students into an experimental group (85 students who played the CrossQuestion game through gamified flipped classroom session–Spring 2020-21) and a control group (60 students who previously underwent lecture-based instructions and individualized formal assessments–Spring 2019-20). The analysis of students’ grades confirms improvement by applying gamified flipped classroom group-based assessments in the learning process. The students’ questionnaire also confirms that group-based assessments can improve students’ motivation. We developed a game system that was attractive to the students, implying that it can be an effective instructional and recreational material to boost morale, increase collaboration, enhance engagement and socialization opportunities, especially during this challenging pandemic.