Investigating the motivational behaviour of pupils during outdoor science teaching within self-determination theory

This paper presents data from a mixed-method pilot study (n=84) searching into learning psychological aspects of an outdoor science teaching programme. We use data from qualitative explorations into the pupils’ learning motivation during field observation, a group interview, and open questionnaires,...

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Main Authors: Ulrich eDettweiler, Ali eÜnlü, Gabriele eLauterbach, Christoph eBecker, Bernhard eGschrey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00125/full
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author Ulrich eDettweiler
Ali eÜnlü
Gabriele eLauterbach
Christoph eBecker
Bernhard eGschrey
author_facet Ulrich eDettweiler
Ali eÜnlü
Gabriele eLauterbach
Christoph eBecker
Bernhard eGschrey
author_sort Ulrich eDettweiler
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents data from a mixed-method pilot study (n=84) searching into learning psychological aspects of an outdoor science teaching programme. We use data from qualitative explorations into the pupils’ learning motivation during field observation, a group interview, and open questionnaires, in order to understand quantitative measures from the Self-Determination Index (SDI), and the Practical Orientation (PO) of the programme. Our data suggest that lower self-regulated pupils in normal science classes show a significantly higher self-regulated learning motivational behaviour in the outdoor educational setting (p<10^-4), and that the outdoor-teaching has generally been perceived as more practical than teaching at the normal school context (p<10^-4), irrespective of gender or school culture. We are going to provide in-depth analyses of all quantitative findings with our qualitative data and thus explain the findings logically, with respect to the direction of the statistical interpretation, and substantially, with respect to the meaning of the discoveries. We conclude that outdoor programming appears to be a suitable tool to trigger interest in science in youngsters, especially for less motivated pupils.
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spelling doaj.art-e916af2c816442d3acfa2d07925974132022-12-22T03:35:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782015-02-01610.3389/fpsyg.2015.00125127484Investigating the motivational behaviour of pupils during outdoor science teaching within self-determination theoryUlrich eDettweiler0Ali eÜnlü1Gabriele eLauterbach2Christoph eBecker3Bernhard eGschrey4Technische Universität MünchenTechnische Universität MünchenTechnische Universität MünchenTechnische Universität MünchenTechnische Universität MünchenThis paper presents data from a mixed-method pilot study (n=84) searching into learning psychological aspects of an outdoor science teaching programme. We use data from qualitative explorations into the pupils’ learning motivation during field observation, a group interview, and open questionnaires, in order to understand quantitative measures from the Self-Determination Index (SDI), and the Practical Orientation (PO) of the programme. Our data suggest that lower self-regulated pupils in normal science classes show a significantly higher self-regulated learning motivational behaviour in the outdoor educational setting (p<10^-4), and that the outdoor-teaching has generally been perceived as more practical than teaching at the normal school context (p<10^-4), irrespective of gender or school culture. We are going to provide in-depth analyses of all quantitative findings with our qualitative data and thus explain the findings logically, with respect to the direction of the statistical interpretation, and substantially, with respect to the meaning of the discoveries. We conclude that outdoor programming appears to be a suitable tool to trigger interest in science in youngsters, especially for less motivated pupils.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00125/fullMotivationself-determination theoryScience teachingExperiential educationOutdoor teachingexpeditionary teaching
spellingShingle Ulrich eDettweiler
Ali eÜnlü
Gabriele eLauterbach
Christoph eBecker
Bernhard eGschrey
Investigating the motivational behaviour of pupils during outdoor science teaching within self-determination theory
Frontiers in Psychology
Motivation
self-determination theory
Science teaching
Experiential education
Outdoor teaching
expeditionary teaching
title Investigating the motivational behaviour of pupils during outdoor science teaching within self-determination theory
title_full Investigating the motivational behaviour of pupils during outdoor science teaching within self-determination theory
title_fullStr Investigating the motivational behaviour of pupils during outdoor science teaching within self-determination theory
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the motivational behaviour of pupils during outdoor science teaching within self-determination theory
title_short Investigating the motivational behaviour of pupils during outdoor science teaching within self-determination theory
title_sort investigating the motivational behaviour of pupils during outdoor science teaching within self determination theory
topic Motivation
self-determination theory
Science teaching
Experiential education
Outdoor teaching
expeditionary teaching
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00125/full
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