The ‘Practical Engagement’ and ‘Autonomy’ Factors Underlying Student Engagement in AI-Resistant Assessments.
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Authors
Bell, B and Prins, R
Issue Date
2025
Type
Other
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
IIE Book of Proceedings: The IIE's 2nd International Conference on Teaching and Learning.
Abstract
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools, such as ChatGPT and CoPilot, have rendered
traditional summative assessments vulnerable to machine-generated work, thereby undermining
students’ ability to think critically and also undermining the integrity of academic content. In
response, higher education institutions are implementing assessment formats that are AI-resistant,
such as project-based tasks, reflective journals, e-portfolios, collaborative assessments and oral
assessments, that emphasise authenticity and process over recall. However, the alignment of
these formats with student engagement remains underexplored. Drawing on a multidimensional
framework of engagement comprising eight indicators (interest, material interaction, real-world
application, creative freedom, exploration beyond requirements, study time, collaboration with
peers, and depth of understanding), this cross-sectional survey of 67 undergraduate module
evaluations applied principal component and confirmatory factor analyses to discover hidden
structures. Results reveal two dominant engagement factors: Practical Engagement, reflecting
behavioural and cognitive investment in applied, hands-on tasks; and Autonomy, capturing self
regulated choice, collaboration and exploratory learning. Collectively, these factors account for
83% of the variance in engagement ratings. The findings suggest that AI-resistant assessments
will most effectively promote authentic engagement when they combine concrete, career
relevant challenges with student choice over pacing, format and collaborations. Practitioners should create assessments that mirror workplace demands while incorporating elements of
autonomy, supported by clear rubrics and formative feedback, and providing guidelines for using
AI responsibly.
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Citation
Publisher
The Independednt Institute of Education