Achievement Goal Theory: A Framework for Implementing Group Work and Open-Ended Problem Solving
Abstract
In educational psychology, achievement goal theory (AGT) has emerged as a useful framework for understanding student motivation and performance. This paper uses AGT to examine the effects of curriculum and pedagogy on student and instructor goal orientations in mathematics, physics, and engineering courses in a first-year engineering program. The following questions guide our analysis: (a) How do the existing curricula and pedagogies affect a performance goal orientation development? (b) In which ways do the existing curricula and pedagogies encourage a development of mastery goal orientation? The results of this qualitative study indicate: (1) contention between the instructors' goals and students' experiences of group work and open-ended learning experiences; (2) the negative impact of time pressure on successfully implementing mastery goal-oriented teaching strategies; (3) students' maintenance of a performance goal orientation with high emphasis on grades rather than learning and engagement in work avoidance strategies to minimize work time, despite instructors' efforts to encourage a mastery goal orientation; (4) dependence of student goal orientation on assessment mechanisms (grades) and perceived course "usefulness". It is argued that AGT may help to frame positive changes in curricula and pedagogy to benefit overall student learning.
Recommended Citation
C. I. Canfield and Y. V. Zastavker, "Achievement Goal Theory: A Framework for Implementing Group Work and Open-Ended Problem Solving," Proceedings of the 40th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference (2010, Arlington, VA), pp. S1C1 - S1C7, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Oct 2010.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2010.5673359
Meeting Name
40th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE 2010 (2010: Oct. 27-30, Arlington, VA)
Department(s)
Engineering Management and Systems Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Achievement Goal Theory; Group Work; Motivation; Open-Ended Problem Solving
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
978-142446259-9
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1539-4565
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2010 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Oct 2010
