Exploring Young Learners’ Goal Orientations at Schools With Challenging Circumstances

• In Event: Educational Effectiveness in Elementary Schools

Abstract

In consideration of Education for All initiatives, school effectiveness research suggests that it is necessary to examine some of the student processes that may be indicative of academic achievement. As current definitions of school success focus on performance based achievement, there is need for broadening conceptualizations of school success to include performance and mastery goal orientations from the perspectives of students. Using goal orientation theory, this paper discusses how student motivations for success influence behaviours and school performance and suggests that academic achievement is likely influenced by individual and systemic goal orientations, particularly in schools with challenging circumstances.

Authors

• Farah Jindani, University of Toronto

• Eunice Eunhee Jang, University of Toronto