A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY, SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACH TO PROMOTING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, RETENTION AND ACHIEVEMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION

This article details a social constructivist-based methodology to learning English as a foreign language via a multi-disciplinary approach. The approach used bases learning in a novel, real-world situation so that learners can benefit from the experience of learning and gaining tacit knowledge within a scenario that is designed to enhance motivation. The two groups of students under study were given a year-long project to complete where they had to use not only their language skills, but skills they had developed in other modules from their programme of education such as project planning, project management, planning and holding meetings, producing project reports and working within a collaborative framework. The teaching and research methods in this study aim to improve student engagement with subject materials via added-value and added interest through the use of a practical project, which, in turn, is hoped to improve class retention and student achievement.