A situated expectancy-value theoretical perspective of teaching presence and student engagement in blended learning environments

Abstract

Teaching presence is a key factor affecting student engagement, yet scant research has examined the uniquely longitudinal effect of teaching presence on student engagement. This study, guided by the the processual, situated, and directional lens of Situated Expectancy-Value Theory (SEVT), employed longitudinal structural equation modeling to analyze data from 258 undergraduate students at a Chinese university, investigating how initial teaching presence influenced subsequent motivational constructs (self-efficacy and course value) and student engagement in blended learning environments. Our findings revealed there was an evolving and complex interplay among these constructs. Teaching presence demonstrated a sustained autoregressive effect of itself. Meanwhile, teaching presence acted as a situated catalyst that not only impacted immediate student engagement but also later perceptions of course value and self-efficacy, which in turn increased student engagement levels at the end of the semester. Furthermore, while self-efficacy and course value mediated the relationship between teaching presence and student engagement, the mediating effect of course value was more pronounced. Additionally, the directionality of predicting relationships, revealing a predominant influence from teaching presence to student engagement, rather than a reciprocal relationship. This research underscores the importance of instructional strategies prioritizing a robust teaching presence to initiate a cycle of positive student engagement in blended learning environments. By understanding the longitudinal effects of teaching presence, educators can develop more effective approaches to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.