Pedagogical Scaffolding Through Online Quests and Its Influence on Students' Learning Motivation in the Context of Educational Digitalization

The goal of modern education is to create conditions for the personal growth of each learner, enabling them to acquire and improve professional competencies and skills. In this context, quest-based (online quest-based) teaching technology deserves special attention as a form of pedagogical scaffolding within the higher education system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of online quests as a pedagogical scaffolding technology for enhancing achievement motivation among students within a single university setting. The study explores the essence of two core concepts: "online quest" and "pedagogical scaffolding." The primary method employed was a comprehensive pedagogical experiment conducted during the second semester of the 2023-2024 academic year. The experiment included two experimental groups of 62 and two control groups of 58 students, accounting 120 participants in total. The experiment unfolded through several well-structured phases, including preparatory activities, baseline assessments, the implementation of a long-term online quest via the Moodle system, and follow-up data analysis using methods of mathematical statistics. The results revealed a significant increase in student engagement, critical thinking, and independent learning among participants in the experimental groups, as well as confirming the research hypothesis that the use of online quests as a scaffolding technology effectively enhances students' achievement motivational levels.