Eastern Samar — The use of instructional materials in classrooms has been proven to significantly influence student engagement in elementary schools. This was revealed in a recent study by Marcus Aurellus Cuevas, Jean Rica Bustamante, Angel Mae Pabelonia, and Sheena Baula from Eastern Samar State University, published in 2026. The research highlights that teaching aids such as pictures, videos, printed books, and manipulatives remain essential in creating more active and engaging learning environments.
As educational technology continues to evolve rapidly, instructional materials are often seen as secondary tools that can be replaced by digital methods. However, this study demonstrates that both traditional and audio-visual learning materials still play a major role in improving student attention, motivation, and classroom participation.
The research was conducted during the 2024–2025 school year in four public elementary schools in Guiuan and Quinapondan, Eastern Samar, Philippines. A total of 80 Grade IV, V, and VI students participated in the study, answering questionnaires about their teachers’ use of instructional materials and their own level of classroom engagement.
The findings revealed that the use of instructional materials was rated at a very high level, with an average score of 4.60 out of 5, indicating consistent use by teachers.
One of the strongest findings showed that instructional materials greatly increased students’ interest in learning, receiving the highest score of 4.82. This means students are more motivated when lessons involve visual, audio, or interactive teaching tools.
Student engagement was also rated very high, with an average score of 4.55 out of 5. Around 81.25 percent of students were classified as highly engaged in classroom learning.
Marcus Aurellus Cuevas explained that students become more interested, more active in class activities, and more enthusiastic about learning when instructional materials are integrated into lessons.
The study also found a statistically significant relationship between instructional materials and student engagement, with a correlation coefficient of 0.375 and a significance level of 0.001. While the correlation is categorized as low, it still confirms that increased use of instructional materials is associated with higher student engagement.
Angel Mae Pabelonia noted that instructional materials do more than simplify complex lessons. They make classrooms more dynamic, help students retain information, and encourage stronger participation.
Interestingly, printed materials such as books, posters, and pictures remain the most commonly used teaching tools. This shows that despite the rise of digital education, conventional teaching resources continue to play a critical role, especially in schools with limited technological access.
For educators, the findings reinforce the idea that effective teaching is not only about instructional methods but also about how content is delivered. Well-designed instructional materials can bridge the gap between teachers and learners.
The researchers recommend that schools continue investing in diverse learning materials while providing teacher training to improve the creative development of classroom resources.
In elementary education, the study serves as a reminder that student engagement remains the foundation of effective learning—and one of the simplest ways to strengthen it is through meaningful instructional materials.
Author profil
Marcus Aurellus Cuevas — Eastern Samar State University
Jean Rica Bustamante — Eastern Samar State University
Angel Mae Pabelonia — Eastern Samar State University
Sheena Baula — Eastern Samar State University
source research:
Use of Instructional Materials on Student Engagement: A Study among Intermediate Pupils
East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR), 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i6.115
Jurnal: https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr
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