Abstract—The article aims to examine the effect of the online
problem-based learning (PBL) method on engineering-related
vocabulary acquisition by ESP students and their satisfaction
with the learning experience. The study involved 70 third-year
undergraduate students at the National Technical University of
Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” (Kyiv,
Ukraine). They were taught with the use of traditional methods
(control groups) and PBL method employing different online
platforms, such as, Quizlet, LearningApps, Wordwall, and
Quizizz (experimental groups). The learning outcomes were
assessed using a vocabulary test and compared by means of the
Fisher Criterion using online statistical software. The data
about the students’ attitudes towards online problem-based
vocabulary learning was collected with the use of a
questionnaire in Google forms application which was
automatically processed and analyzed by the authors. The
findings of our study showed that the students who were taught
with the PBL method online had statistically higher results in
vocabulary acquisition than those taught with traditional
methods. Students’ attitude to problem-based vocabulary
learning was positive. Based on our findings we can conclude
that the factor of the authenticity of the problems plays a vital
role in vocabulary learning, makes it more enjoyable and
meaningful for students, promotes their motivation and
self-direction. The use of online vocabulary learning tools and
videoconferencing technologies provides the students with a
considerable degree of flexibility and autonomy and creates an
opportunity to study at various locations. The online mode of
instruction is appropriate for the context of distance learning,
which is especially valuable during the pandemic.
Index Terms—English for specific purposes, online learning,
problem-based vocabulary learning, technical university.
Iryna Lytovchenko, Yelyzaveta Kriukova, Inna Meleshko, Nataliia
Yamshinska, Hanna Voronina, and Neonila Kutsenok are with the National
Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”,
Ukraine (e-mail: irinalyt@ukr.net, lizacru@ukr.net, inameleshko@ukr.net,
nyamshinskaya@ukr.net, hannavoronina@ukr.net, engnila@ukr.net).
Olena Ogienko is with the A. S. Makarenko Sumy State Pedagogical
University, Ukraine (e-mail: el.ogienko@gmail.com).
Cite: Iryna Lytovchenko, Olena Ogienko, Yelyzaveta Kriukova, Inna Meleshko, Nataliia Yamshinska, Hanna Voronina, and Neonila Kutsenok, "Online Problem-Based Learning: Possibilities for Engineering Vocabulary Acquisition in ESP Course at Technical University," International Journal of Information and Education Technology vol. 12, no. 9, pp. 905-911, 2022.
Copyright © 2022 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).