L2: Motivation & Learning Flashcards
(41 cards)
What is the main goal of secondary education?
To promote independent thinking and allow individuals to make well-informed choices
Describe features of secondary education within developed countries and compare different systems of education
History
* In the last century, secondary education has become standard for adolescents with the shift to a knowledge based society
* School enrollment increased in the Age of Adolescence (1890 - 1920) with the introduction of mandatory school laws and child labor laws
American Schools
* In the US there are comprehensive high schools, where everyone attends the same school, and the curriculum encompasses a wide range of topics/functions
* Pro = allows for greater flexibility
* Con = challenging to find a level of teaching that suits all students
European Schools
* College-preparatory schools - goal is general education
* Vocational schools - learning skills for a specifc occupation
* Professional schools - for teachers, arts, or whatever the fuck
* Pro = more adapted to specific student goals
* Con = students are forced to make career decisions quite early on
Describe features of secondary education within developing countries
- There is a gender gap in enrollment, but these are decreasing
- Overall rates of enrollment are increasing
- There is a disparity in school quality based on economic status, with a large distinction between public schools that are often underfunded and overcrowed and elite private schools
overview
List factors which promote academic success
- Small school/class size
- Positive school climate
- Authoritative parenting
- High parental expectations of achievement
- Academically-oriented peers
- Working less than 10 hours a week
List parenting factors that promote academic success
1) Authoritative Parenting
* High demandingness, high responsiveness
* Promotes factors related to academic success, such as self-reliance, persistence, and responsibility
* Caution when interpreting these results because we do not know the directionality. Maybe authoritative parenting promotes academic success, or maybe academically successful children are easier to parent.
2) High Parental Expectations of Achievement
* Parental expectations influence the childs performance and attitudes towards school and achievement
* Potentially a G x E effect, as parents with a higher IQ (G) might have higher expectations (E)
List schooling factors that promote academic success
- Small school size (500-1000)
- Small class size (20-40)
- Positive school climate
Define (positive) school climate and explain how it influences academic success
- School climate: the quality of interactions between teachers and students
- A positive school climate consists of teachers who are supportive, involved, disciplinary, and have high expectations
- A positive school climate increases the engagement levels of students
Define engagement
The quality of being psychologically commited to learning, including being alert and attentive in the classroom and making a diligent effort to learn
List peer factors that promote academic success
- Academically-oriented friends can increase performance of other friends over time, but can also reduce academic self-concept
- Big fish in little pond effect: students compare themselves to their classmates, and there is higher self-esteem when academic performance is higher than the peer norm
List individual factors that promote academic success
- Working less than 10 hours a week
- Having motivation
Explain the relationship between SES and academic success
Higher SES is related to:
* Higher IQ (due to G x E interactions)
* Better nutrition
* Less health problems
* Less stressors
* More involved parents
Describe the effects of school meritocracy
- Believing that school is a meritocracy = believing that success is based on ability and effort, ignoring the effects of background and luck
- Teachers who believe in school meritocracy legitimize inequality
- Teachers who do not believe in school meritocracy try different ways to reduce inequality in their classroom
Explain gender differences in academic achievement
- Girls have higher academic performance in all stages
- This is potentially because girls enjoy the school environment more and feel more support from their parents
Explain ethnic differences in academic achievement
Ethnic differences in academic achievement can be explained by differences in:
* Social class - lower SES
* Parental expectations - believing academic success is the result of effort vs ability, cultural emphasis on importance of academics
* Peers - academic orientation of friends
* Potential prejudice and discrimination
Define giftedness
Having an IQ of minimum 130
List characteristics of giftedness
- Precocity (early age)
- Independence
- Drive for mastery
- Excellence in information processing
Define learning disability
Diagnosis made when an individual has normal intelligence but has difficulties in one or more academic areas which cannot be attributed to another disorder
List factors which predict absenteeism
- Negative attitude towards school
- Internalizing/externalizing problems
- Low parent involvement
- Substance use
List factors which predict school dropout
- Low SES
- Low grades
- Low IQ / learning problems
Describe interventions for school dropout
Intervention in the form of an alternative school for at-risk students
* Start early (before problems have accumilated)
* Caring and involved teachers
* Small classes
* Provide additional training (academic or vocational) for domains that interest the student
Define retention and list associated factors
- Retention: the degree of success in maintaining students in university until they graduate
Related factors:
* Previous academic performance
* Ethnic background
* Family SES
Describe the categories of student subcultures
Clark & Trow
1) Collegiate (goal = have fun)
2) Vocational (goal = obtain degree)
3) Academic (goal = obtain knowledge)
4) Rebel (goal = pursue an identity)
Define motivation
- Motivation: the willingness to invest one’s capacities
- Motivation moderates the relationship between capacity and actual performance
Describe trait measures of school motivation
- Trait indices conceptualize motivation as a stable trait
- Limitation = cannot use trait measures in intervention studies, as they assume motivation does not change
Example Measures:
1) Need for Cognition Scale
* Measures the tendency of people to engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive tasks
2) Academic Delay of Gratification
* Select statements which most apply to you, relating to delayed academic rewards (study a little bit) or immediate non-academic rewards (hang out with friends)
3) Self-Regulation Questionnaire-Academic
* Measures four components of motivation:
Autonomous Motivation:
a) Intrinsic motivation - doing tasks for enjoyement/fun
b) Identified motivation - doing tasks to achieve a self-valued goal or because it is important to you
Controlled Motivation:
c) Introjected motivation - doing tasks for approval from others and avoiding disapproval
d) External motivation - doing tasks to follow the rules and avoid punishment
