Creating Digital Media-Based Content as Output of Project-Based Learning: Exploring Students' Perspectives on Implementation, Challenges, and Solutions

English Language Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University, Tanjungpinang 29111, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: rahmanuzulia@umrah.ac.id

Abstract

Given the emphasis on case or team-based projects as the crucial performance indicators in syllabus, lecturers from Raja Ali Haji Maritime University have designed a syllabus that promote digital media content creation as the project output to support society 5.0 and environmental awareness in the context of language learning. This study explores the perspectives of second-semester English students who participated in creating digital media-based content that included maritime context as their group-project in vocabulary building course. This study applied an exploratory descriptive-qualitative design. Data were collected from questionnaires, focus-group interviews and observation. The data were collected, thematically categorized, and interpreted. Findings revealed that two types of digital media were created in the course: a Canva-based E-Book and a website-based learning reference. Most students perceived the implementation of creating digital media-based content positively. However, challenges such as vocabulary limitations, skill gaps, communication issues, and self-adjustment were encountered during the project. Additionally, metacognitive strategies such as planning, information management strategies, monitoring, debugging strategies and evaluation are utilized by the students throughout the project.