Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 6 no. 8 (2025)

Developing Soft Skills of Students Through Multimodal Instruction by Pre-Service Educators in a State University

John Marvin D. Renacido | Ersyl T. Biray

Discipline: Cultural Studies

 

Abstract:

Given the low ranking of Filipino children in reading, science, and mathematics at the latest 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), and the lack of empirical evidence about multi-modal instruction of teachers and the development of soft skills of stu-dents, this mixed methods study looked into the transformative im-pact of multimodal instruction on the development of soft skills of stu-dents such as communication, flexibility, and leadership. It will also track the influence of soft skills on student outcomes such as employ-ability, academic success, and personal growth. Survey question-naires were used to effectively assess and monitor the data given by the respondents and a five-point Likert Scale was utilized to establish a clear conclusion of the variables. Semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions were conducted to reassure the quantitative findings. Results of the descriptive statistics showed that all of the variables met the highest mean, strongly agreeing with statements from each variable and was further reinforced by the qualitative anal-ysis from the respondents. Moreover, it was found out that pre-ser-vice teachers prefer to use videos and animations, as their main mul-timodal instruction, to illustrate complex concepts visually. Next is in-corporating visual diagrams, mind influence maps, or conceptual maps, and third but not least, applying hands-on activities and exper-iments for tactile learners. Thus, it concludes that multimodal instruc-tion paves the path for attaining soft skills and that soft skills highly influence student outcomes.



References:

  1. Asuru, V. A., & Ogidi, R. C. (2013). Challenges as-sociated with assessment of soft skills for quality  education  in  Rivers  South-West senatorial district of Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal  of  Educational  Assessment  in  Af-rica, 8, 213–228.
  2. Bee, S. B. (2012). The impact of teacher’s com-munication skills on teaching: Reflections of  pre-service  teachers  on  the  communi-cation  strength  and  weaknesses.  Human-ising Language Teaching, 14(1), 41–42.
  3. Bezemer,  J.,  &  Kress,  G.  (2016).  Multimodality, learning  and  communication:  A  social  se-miotic frame. Routledge.Bezemer,  J.,  &  Jewitt,  C.  (2010).  Multimodal analysis: Key issues. In L. Litosseliti (Ed.), Research methods in linguistics (pp. 180–197). Continuum.
  4. Birch, D., & Gardiner, M. (2005). Students' per-ceptions  of  technology-based  marketing courses.   Proceedings   of   Australia   and New  Zealand  Marketing  Educators  Con-ference,  December  5–7,  Fremantle,  Aus-tralia.
  5. Bisson, M., van Heuven, W., Conklin, K.,  & Tun-ney, R. (2014). The role of repeated expo-sure to multi-modal input in incidental ac-quisition  of  foreign  language  vocabulary. Language Learning, 64(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/lang.12085
  6. Borzello,  K.  (2018,  March).  The  benefits  of  a multimodality  approach  to  teaching  and learning.  In  New  Perspectives  in  Science Education   Conference   Proceedings   (pp. 141–143).
  7. Bouchey,  B.,  Castek,  J.,  &  Thygeson,  J.  (2021). Multimodal learning. In Innovative Learn-ing Environments in STEM Higher Educa-tion: Opportunities, Challenges, and Look-ing Forward (pp. 35–54).
  8. Chamorro-Premuzic, T., & Furnham, A. (2008). Personality,  intelligence,  and  approaches to learning as predictors of academic per-formance.  Personality  and  Individual  Dif-ferences, 44, 1596–1603.
  9. Chen, G., & Fu, X. (2003). Effects of multimodal information on learning performance and judgment  of  learning.  Journal  of  Educa-tional  Computing  Research,  29(3),  349–362.
  10. Clair,  S.  S.,  Riley,  C.  E.,  Thaemert,  D.  K.,  &  Lind-gren,  P.  E.  R.  (2011,  June).  Using  positive interdependence and multi-modal assign-ments  to  enhance  student  understanding of  civil  engineering  soft  skills.  In  2011 ASEE   Annual   Conference   &   Exposition (pp. 22–1632).
  11. Cronin,  J.  J.  (2009).  Upgrading  to  Web  2.0:  An experiential  project  to  build  a  marketing Wiki.   Journal   of   Marketing   Education, 31(1), 66–75.
  12. Dunn, R., DeBello, T., Brennan, P., Krimsky, J., & Murrain,   P.   (1981).   Learning   style   re-searchers  define  differences  differently. Educational Leadership, 38(5), 372–375.
  13. Gellevij,  M.,  van  der  Meij,  H.,  de  Jong,  T.,  &  Pie-ters,  J.  (2002).  Multimodal  versus  uni-modal  instruction  in  a  complex  learning context. The Journal of Experimental Edu-cation, 70(3), 215–239. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220970209599507
  14. Govender, R., & Rajkoomar, M. (2021). A multi-modal  model  for  learning,  teaching  and assessment in higher education. In Covid-19:  Interdisciplinary  Explorations  of  Im-pacts on Higher Education (p. 57).
  15. Greene,  J.  C.,  &  Caracelli,  V.  J.  (1997).  Defining and   describing   the   paradigm   issue   in mixed-method  evaluation.  In  J.  C.  Greene & V. J. Caracelli (Eds.), Advances in mixed-method  evaluation:  The  challenges  and benefits  of  integrating  diverse  paradigms (pp. 5–17). Jossey-Bass.
  16. Gregoric,  A.  (1985).  Inside  styles,  beyond  the basics. Gregoric Associates.Hazari, S. (2004). Applying instructional design theories  to  improve  efficacy  of  technol-ogy-assisted  presentations.  Journal  of  In-struction Delivery Systems, 18(2), 24–33.
  17. Kalyuga,  S.,  Chandler,  P.,  &  Sweller,  J.  (2004). When  redundant  on-screen  text  in  multi-media  technical  instruction  can  interfere with   learning.   Human   Factors,   46(3), 567–581.
  18. Karneli, O., Handayati, R., & Rijal, S. (2024). En-hancement  of  soft  skills  competence  in human  resources  as  a  key  success  factor in the digital business era. Journal of Con-temporary  Administration  and  Manage-ment (ADMAN), 2(1), 319–324.Renacido&Biray, 2025/Developing Soft Skills of Students Through Multimodal Instruction by Pre-Service Educators in a State UniversityIJMABER3856Volume 6| Number 8| August| 2025
  19. Keefe,  J.  (1987).  Student  learning  styles  and brain behavior. NASSP.Khalidzuoud, V., & Rawyaalshboul, S. A. (2018). The effects of communication skills in de-veloping  preparatory  year  students'  per-formance.    Proceedings    of    Academics World   82nd   International   Conference, Langkawi, Malaysia, June 18–19, 2018.
  20. Khromchenko,  O.  (2024).  New  communication skills for today’s generation. АКТУАЛЬНI ПИТАННЯ  ГУМАНIТАРНИХ  НАУК, 2024(286).Kozma,  R.  B.  (1991).  Learning  with  media.  Re-view  of  Educational  Research,  61,  179–211.
  21. Kress,  G.  R.,  &  van  Leeuwen,  T.  (2001).  Multi-modal discourse: The modes and media of contemporary   communication.   Edward Arnold.Li,  M.  (2020).  Multimodal  pedagogy  in  TESOL teacher education: Students’ perspectives. System, 94, 102337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sys-tem.2020.102337
  22. Lu,  Y.,  Chang,  R.,  Chong,  D.,  &  Ngiam,  M.  L.  J. (2018).  Transition  towards  green  facility management:   Bridging   the   knowledge gaps   of   facilities   managers.   Journal   of Green Building, 13(3), 122–143.
  23. Maiullo, J. (2022). Considering multimodal ma-terials  and  modes  of  communication  for authentic  communication  in  online  clas-ses. English Teaching Forum, 60(1), 2–14.
  24. Matusiak,  K.  K.  (2013).  Image  and  multimedia resources in an academic environment: A qualitative study of students’ experiences and   literacy   practices.   Journal   of   the American Society for Information Science and     Technology,     64(8),     1577–1589. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.22870
  25. Mayer,  R.  E.,  &  Wittrock,  M.  C.  (2006).  Hand-book   of   educational   psychology.   Law-rence Erlbaum Associates.Moreno,  R.,  &  Mayer,  R.  E.  (2007).  Interactive multimodal  learning  environments.  Edu-cational  Psychology  Review,  19(3),  309–326.Mayer, R. E. (2003). Elements of a science of e-learning.  Journal  of  Educational  Compu-ting Research, 29(3), 297–313.
  26. Moon,  J.,  Ke,  F.,  Sokolikj,  Z.,  &  Chakraborty,  S. (2024).  Applying  multimodal  data  fusion to track autistic adolescents’ representa-tional  flexibility  development  during  vir-tual  reality-based  training.  Computers  & Education: X Reality, 4, 100063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmex.2023.100063
  27. Nam, J., & Cho, H. (2016). Examining the impact of  multimodal  representation  instruction on students’ learning of science. In Using multimodal   representations   to   support learning   in   the   science   classroom   (pp. 117–133). Springer International Publish-ing.
  28. Nouri, J. (2019). Students’ multimodal literacy and design  of learning during  self-studies in higher education. Technology, Knowledge  and  Learning,  24,  683–698. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-018-9360-5
  29. Nyatyowa,  L.  (2017).  Here  is  how  good  time management  will  make  you  a  better  stu-dent. Oxbridge Academy.Olivier,  J.  (2019).  Short  instructional  videos  as multimodal open educational resources in a  language  classroom.  Journal  of  Educa-tional Multimedia and Hypermedia, 28(4), 381–409.
  30. Padhi,  P.  K.  (2014).  Soft  skills:  Education  be-yond academics. IOSR Journal of Humani-ties and Social Science (IOSRJHSS), 19(5), 1–3.
  31. Pashler, H., McDaniel, M., Rohrer, D., & Bjork, R. (2008). Learning styles: Concepts and ev-idence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9(3), 105–119.
  32. Plano  Clark,  V.  L.,  &  Ivankova,  N.  V.  (2016). Mixed  methods  research:  A  guide  to  the field. Sage Publications.
  33. Pourhossein,  A.,  Nizam,  H.,  &  Masoumeh,  S. (2011). The  effect of multimodal learning models  on  language  teaching  and  learn-ing.   Theory   and   Practice   in   Language Studies, 1(10), 1321–1327.
  34. Preckel,  F.,  Holling,  H.,  &  Vock,  M.  (2006).  Aca-demic    underachievement:    Relationship with  cognitive  motivation,  achievement motivation,  and  conscientiousness.  Psy-chology in the Schools, 43, 401–411.Renacido&Biray, 2025/Developing Soft Skills of Students Through Multimodal Instruction by Pre-Service Educators in a State UniversityIJMABER 3857Volume 6| Number 8| August | 2025
  35. Renuga,  M.,  &  Vijayalakshmi,  F.  (2013).  Apply-ing  Vark  principles  to  impart  interper-sonal  skills  to  the  students  with  multi-modal  learning  styles.  Life  Science  Jour-nal, 10(2), 2671–2677.
  36. Sankey, M., Birch, D., & Gardiner, M. (2010). En-gaging     students    through    multimodal learning  environments:  The  journey  con-tinues. In Proceedings  of ASCILITE—Aus-tralian Society for Computers in Learning in  Tertiary  Education  Annual  Conference 2010 (pp. 852–863).
  37. Scaife,  M.,  &  Rogers,  Y.  (1996).  External  cogni-tion:  How  do  graphical  representations work?  International  Journal  of  Human-Computer Studies, 45, 185–213.
  38. Shenoy,  U.  G.,  Ashwathappa,  J.,  Shivram,  R.,  & Priya, S. (2021). Effect of learning modali-ties on visuomotor performance and men-tal flexibility in professional students. Na-tional  Journal  of  Physiology,  Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 11(01).
  39. Sweller,  J.,  van  Merrienboer,  J.  G.,  &  Paas,  F.  C. (1998). Cognitive architecture and instructional design. Educational Psychol-ogy Review, 10(3), 251–296.
  40. Sydorenko, T. (2010). Modality of input and vo-cabulary  acquisition.  Language  Learning & Technology, 14(2), 50–73.
  41. Turakulova,  K.  S.  (2024).  Enhancing  profes-sional  communication  skills  for  tourism students: A multimodal approach to effec-tive tourist interaction. Science and Inno-vation, 3(46), 753–756.
  42. Villarin, S. J. B., & Emperador, E. A. (2023). Fac-tors, forms, and functions of code switch-ing on English achievement among Grade 11  students.  International  Journal  of  Sci-ence  and  Management  Studies,  6(2),  99–109. https://doi.org/10.51386/25815946/ijsms-v6i2p114
  43. Wysocki, A. (2002). Teaching writing with com-puters: An introduction (3rd ed.).  Hough-ton-Mifflin.Yelland, N., Lee, L., & O’Rourke, M. (2008). Re-thinking  learning  in  early  childhood  edu-cation. McGraw-Hill Education

Tools


Copyright © 2025  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic