The Impact of Feedback Technologies on Student Motivation and Development of Academic Competencies. An Experimental Study

Authors

  • Horațiu Catalano Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Denisa-Mihaela Dulf Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Roxana-Maria Petian Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/17.4/1045

Keywords:

academic performance, digital feedback, educational technologies, motivation, student engagement

Abstract

Against the backdrop of increasing educational interconnectedness across Europe, the digital transformation of higher education calls for the development of essential competencies that enable students to adapt to and actively participate in the European digital society. This study explores the impact of educational technologies on students’ academic motivation and performance through the integration of the Student Feedback Tool (SFT) platform into university teaching activities. The research was conducted on a sample of 200 students, divided into an experimental group and a control group, and analyzed changes in intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as well as seminar performance. This study used four main instruments to measure the variables of interest: the academic motivation questionnaire, the Student Feedback Tool, the standardized seminar performance evaluation form, and student focus groups. The quantitative data gathered were complemented by qualitative insights from the focus group discussions. The results indicate a significant increase in intrinsic motivation and academic performance among students who received continuous digital feedback. Moreover, students reported higher levels of engagement, clarity of expectations, and perceived usefulness of feedback. The study supports the integration of educational technologies into instructional design as an effective strategy for enhancing student engagement, motivation, and accountability in the learning process within a digitally connected academic environment.

Author Biographies

Horațiu Catalano, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Horațiu Catalano is a full professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. His primary research interests include educational psychology, assessment methods in education, and pedagogical innovation. He has authored and co-authored several articles focusing on formative assessment, digital tools in education, and student motivation. His academic work is dedicated to bridging theory and practice in the educational field and promoting evidence-based teaching strategies

Denisa-Mihaela Dulf, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Denisa-Mihaela Dulf is a doctoral student at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University. Her research encompasses the application of alternative pedagogical methods, the development of literacy skills in early education, and the cultivation of assertive communication strategies to foster positive classroom environments. She has also explored approaches to mitigate aggressive behaviours in primary education settings. Her scholarly work contributes to the advancement of inclusive and effective educational practices.

Roxana-Maria Petian, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Roxana-Maria Petian is a doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University. Her main areas of interest include classroom assessment, educational interventions, and metacognitive strategies. She has contributed to research on teacher professional development and the use of data-driven methods to enhance student learning outcomes. Her work supports the integration of reflective practices in educational settings.

References

Aryal, H. (2021). A literature survey on student feedback assessment tools and their usage in sentiment analysis. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2109.07904

Alotaibi, N. S. (2024). The impact of AI and LMS integration on the future of higher education: Opportunities, challenges, and strategies for transformation. Sustainability, 16(23), 10357. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310357

Awedh, M., Mueen, A., Zafar, B., & Manzoor, U. (2015). Using Socrative and Smartphones for the support of collaborative learning. arXiv preprint arXiv:1501.01276. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1501.01276

Badarne, G. (2019). The effects of ICT integrated learning on motivation and self-efficacy to learn biology. Științe ale Educației, (5), 79–86. https://ojs.studiamsu.md/index.php/stiinte_educatiei/article/view/2450/3166

Baig, M. I., & Yadegaridehkordi, E. (2023). Flipped classroom in higher education: a systematic literature review and research challenges. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 20(1), 61. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-023-00430-5

Brew, A. (2013). Understanding the scope of undergraduate research: A framework for curricular and pedagogical decision-making. Higher Education, 66(5), 603–618. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-013-9624-x

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Carless, D., & Boud, D. (2018). The development of student feedback literacy: Enabling uptake of feedback. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 43(8), 1315–1325. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1463354

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01

Domínguez, A., Saenz-de-Navarrete, J., de-Marcos, L., Fernández-Sanz, L., Pagés, C., & Martínez-Herráiz, J.-J. (2021). Gamifying learning experiences: Practical implications and outcomes. Computers & Education, 145, 103750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.12.020

Du Plooy, E., Casteleijn, D., & Franzsen, D. (2024). Personalized adaptive learning in higher education: A scoping review of key characteristics and impact on academic performance and engagement. Heliyon, 10, e39630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39630

Dunn, T. J., & Kennedy, M. (2019). Technology Enhanced Learning in higher education; motivations, engagement and academic achievement. Computers & Education, 137, 104-113.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.04.004

Feedback Loop. (2024). Continuous peer review improves student learning: Case study. https://getfeedbackloop.com/continuous-peer-feedback-study/

George, D., & Mallery, P. (2003). SPSS for Windows step by step: A simple guide and reference (4th ed.). Allyn & Bacon.

Healey, M., & Jenkins, A. (2009). Developing undergraduate research and inquiry. York: Higher Education Academy.

Kirkwood, A., & Price, L. (2014). Technology-enhanced learning and teaching in higher education: What is 'enhanced' and how do we know? A critical literature review. Learning, Media and Technology, 39(1), 6–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2013.770404

Laurillard, D. (2012). Teaching as a design science: Building pedagogical patterns for learning and technology. Routledge.

Leibold, N., & Schwarz, L. M. (2023). Student perceptions of teacher online feedback: An integrative review. Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.36021/jethe.v5i2.302

Levy, P., & Petrulis, R. (2012). How do first-year university students experience inquiry and research, and what are the implications for the practice of inquiry-based learning? Studies in Higher Education, 37(1), 85–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2010.499166

Madiseh, F. R., Al Abri, A., & Sobhanifar, H. (2023). Integrating Mentimeter to Boost Students' Motivation, Autonomy, and Achievement. Computer-Assisted Language Learning Electronic Journal, 24(3), 232-251. https://callej.org/index.php/journal/article/view/47

Manas, N. H. N., Nain, S. N., & Md Noh@Safar, H. N. B. (2023). Ethical considerations of AI in classroom: Balancing data privacy, student equity, and educational innovation. Nanotechnology Perceptions. https://doi.org/10.62441/nano-ntp.vi.3357

Marín, V. I., & Tur, G. (2024). Ethical issues in the use of technologies in education settings: A scoping review. Education in the Knowledge Society, 25, e31301. https://doi.org/10.14201/eks.31301

Martin, F., & Bolliger, D. U. (2022). Developing an online learner satisfaction framework in higher education through a systematic review of research. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 19(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-022-00355-5

Malekjafarian, A., & Gordan, M. (2024). On the use of an online polling platform for enhancing student engagement in an engineering module. Education Sciences, 14(5), 536. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14050536

Nicol, D., & Macfarlane-Dick, D. (2006). Formative assessment and self‐regulated learning: A model and seven principles of good feedback practice. Studies in Higher Education, 31(2), 199–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070600572090

Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Pérez-Juárez, M. Á., González-Ortega, D., & Aguiar-Pérez, J. M. (2024). Digital distractions from the point of view of higher education students. arXiv preprint arXiv:2402.05249 https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076044

Prinsloo, P., & Slade, S. (2017). Ethics and learning analytics: Charting the (un)charted. In Lang, C., Siemens, G., Wise, A. F., and Gaevic, D., eds., Handbook of Learning Analytics, SOLAR. pp.49–57 http://dx.doi.org/10.18608/hla17.004

Radanliev, P., & Santos, O. (2023). Ethics and responsible AI deployment. arXiv preprint arXiv:2311.14705. https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.14705

Selwyn, N. (2010). Degrees of digital division: Reconsidering digital inequalities and contemporary higher education. Revista de Universidad y Sociedad del Conocimiento (RUSC), 7(1), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.7238/rusc.v7i1.660

The Learning Accelerator. (July 25, 2022). There’s no digital equity without data privacy. https://learningaccelerator.org/blog/theres-no-digital-equity-without-data-privacy/

Qualtrics. (2023). 2023 Education experience trends report. https://www.qualtrics.com/ebooks-guides/2023-education-trends-report/

Williams, A. (2024). Delivering effective student feedback in higher education: an evaluation of the challenges and best practice. International Journal of Research in Education and Science, 10(2), 473–501. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijres.3404

Winstone, N., & Carless, D. (2019). Designing effective feedback processes in higher education: A learning-focused approach. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351115940

Downloads

Published

2025-12-18

How to Cite

Catalano, H., Dulf, D.-M., & Petian, R.-M. (2025). The Impact of Feedback Technologies on Student Motivation and Development of Academic Competencies. An Experimental Study. Revista Romaneasca Pentru Educatie Multidimensionala, 17(4), 01-39. https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/17.4/1045

Issue

Section

Psycho-Social Competencies & Educational Strategies