The Impact of Adaptive Training Approaches on Trainee Engagement in CBET: The Mediating Role of Trainee Motivation

The need to determine specific pathways through which trainee motivation mediates the relationship between adaptive training strategies and trainee engagement necessitated this study. The study was based on a correlational design to explore the relationship between adaptive training strategies (Problem Based Learning, Localized Curriculum, Gamification and Metacognition) and trainee engagement through the mediating role of trainee motivation. Data was collected from a total of 50 students pursuing their course at Kenya School of TVET. Participants were exposed to a total of four adaptive training strategies for a period of eight weeks. Trainees were exposed to each adaptive training strategy for a period of two weeks, after which they were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of self-reporting items that assessed their level of motivation, engagement levels, and how the adaptive training strategy influenced their motivation and engagement. Mediation analysis was used to determine how the relationship between adaptive training strategies and trainee engagement is mediated by trainee motivation. Findings suggest that trainee motivation partially mediates the relationship between problem based learning and trainee engagement, as well as the relationship between gamification and trainee engagement. Moreover, it was found out that, trainee motivation fully mediates the relationship between metacognition training strategy and trainee engagement, as well as the relationship between localized curriculum and trainee engagement. The study reveals novel findings that the only way through which localized curriculum and metacognition can positively affect trainee engagement is through by first enhancing the level of trainee motivation. Recommendations on how localized curriculum and metacognition can enhance motivation of trainees to actively engage in learning activities are proposed based on the self-determination theory.