Why Don’t My Students Focus on Meaningful Learning Why Don’t My Students Focus on Meaningful Learning? Why Do Some Even Sabotage Their Own Learning? Goal Theory

Achievement Goal Theory Learning/Mastery Goal Orientation Goal is to learn something from engaging in the task (develop competence). Performance Goal Orientation Focus not on learning, but on the outcome and how you look compared to others. Performance-Approach Goals Focus on demonstrating competence (want to look good in comparison to others). Performance-Avoid Goals Focus on avoiding demonstrating incompetence (want to avoid looking bad in comparison to others).

Performance-Approach Where are you? Which box is best? Mastery/Learning Goal Orientation High Low I want to get good grades & show others I’m smart High I want to learn & be one of the best I want to look smart but worry about looking dumb. Performance-Approach Goal Orientation I like to learn & don’t care so much about grades or what others think I could care less about learning and what others think. Low Low Performance-Avoid Goal Orientation I like learning but worry about appearing incompetent Please don’t let me look dumb! High

Outcomes Related to Goals Learning/Mastery Goal Orientation Predicts use of deep-level learning strategies, self-efficacy, interest and other adaptive outcomes. Students seek out optimal challenges. But doesn’t always predict achievement. Performance-Approach Goals Orientation Sometimes predicts achievement (more so in college) Often associated with use of surface-level (e.g., memorization, cramming) instead of deep-level learning strategies. Students often avoid challenges. Can change to a performance-avoid orientation when the student struggles.

Outcomes Related to Goals Performance-Avoid Goal Orientation Predicts lower achievement. Related to use of surface-level learning strategies. Students seek out the very easiest tasks (guaranteed success) or impossible tasks (so even if they fail at the task they won’t look dumb). Related to the negative aspects of self-worth validation such as self-handicapping.

Self-Worth Validation The Covington (1992) chapter has great information on ways that students engage in maladaptive motivation patterns because they are focused on preserving their self-worth. Such patterns include: Self-handicapping. Students do things to avoid looking dumb (such as purposely not trying) that, unfortunately, undermine their learning and achievement (“Nobody can think I’m dumb if they know I didn’t even try”). Poor goal setting Choose easy goals that guarantee success (but don’t require any learning) or impossibly difficult goals (“Nobody will think I’m incapable if I fail, because nobody could be expected succeed”). Focus on avoiding “acting white” Purposely underachieving or hiding your achievement, because such achievement is viewed negatively by your peer group.

Performance-Avoid Behaviors A sports team playing “not to lose.” A student in gym class choosing to only try half-court shots (don’t have to worry about failing because no one expects you to make it anyway!). A student goofing off instead of trying on a test (No one can conclude that you’re not smart if you didn’t even try!). A student being a class clown instead of trying to participate. A student bragging about not studying. A student who enjoys science choosing not to take an advanced science class because he is concerned about not doing well.

Other Differences between a Learning/Mastery Orientation and a Performance Orientation Learning Goals Bored by easy tasks. View effort as necessary to learning. More self-regulated. Intrinsically motivated Evaluate performance in terms of progress View errors as normal and useful for learning. Are satisfied with performance if they try hard. Attribute failure to internal, controllable things (mainly effort or strategy). View teacher as a resource and guide. Performance Goals Relieved by easy tasks. View effort as sign of low competence. Less self-regulated. Extrinsically motivated Evaluate performance relative to others. View errors as sign of failure and incompetence. Are satisfied with performance only if they succeed. Attribute failure to internal, uncontrollable things (mainly ability). View teacher as a judge and as a rewarder or punisher.

Environmental conditions that foster learning or performance goals. Learning Goals Performance Goals Success defined as . .. Value placed on . . . Teacher oriented toward . . . View of errors . . . Focus of attention . . . Evaluation criteria . . . Improvement Effort/learning How students are learning. Part of learning. Process of learning. Absolute, progress. High grades, *normative performance. Normative high ability. How students are performing. Problems. Own performance relative to others. High grades, performing better than others. Overall . . . The process of learning and/or the usefulness of the task is emphasized. Social comparison and public observation of performance is emphasized. * “Normative” means in comparison with others. Adapted from Ames & Archer (1988)

To foster learning goals Emphasize the process of learning. Emphasize the usefulness and meaning of the learning activity and content. Avoid treating learning activities or outcomes as ends unto themselves. Avoid social comparison (including individual competition). Avoid public evaluation of performance or try to make it less salient.

TARGET Model Task Authority Recognition Grouping Evaluation Time An approach to fostering a mastery goal orientation (from the Ames, 1992 article) Meaningful Optimal challenge Focus on mastering Task Students have choice & control Sense of autonomy Authority Focus on personal accomplishment Recognition Group by interest or heterogeneous grouping instead of ability grouping. Grouping Provide informative feedback De-emphasize comparison with others. Opportunities for improvement, mistakes Evaluation Flexible Allow for completion of complex projects Time

What impact might proficiency testing have on the type of goals that students adopt?

What is Calvin’s goal orientation in these strips?

Other Goals Variations of the performance-avoid orientation: Work-avoidance goal (just want to avoid doing work). Social Goals What to fit in with a peer group (that may or may not value school). Want to be cool; impress a girl/guy. Satisfy basic needs. Achievement may not even be on a student’s radar because he/she is lacking the basic needs of safety, security, food, etc.