Testing a model of antecedents and consequences of defensive pessimism and self-handicapping in school physical education

There has been very limited research on the use of self-worth protection strategies in the achievement context of school physical education (PE). Thus, this study aimed to examine some antecedents and consequences of defensive pessimism and self-handicapping. The sample comprised 534 (females n = 275; males n = 259) British pupils recruited from two schools who responded to established questionnaires. Results of structural equation modelling analysis indicated that self-handicapping and defensive pessimism were positively predicted by fear of failure and negatively predicted by competence valuation. In addition, defensive pessimism was negatively predicted by physical self-concept. In turn, defensive pessimism negatively predicted enjoyment in PE and intentions to participate in future optional PE programs. Self-handicapping did not predict enjoyment or intentions. Results from multi-sample structural equation modelling showed the specified model to be largely invariant across males and females. The findings indicate that although both strategies aim to protect one’s self-worth, some of their antecedents and consequences in PE may differ

The effects of an afterschool STEM program on students’ motivation and engagement

Background: One significant factor in facilitating students’ career intentions and persistence in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields is targeting their interests and motivation before eighth grade. To reach students at this critical stage, a design-based afterschool STEM program, titled Studio STEM, was implemented to foster motivation and engagement in STEM topics and activities. The purpose of this study is twofold: (a) to investigate how Studio STEM affected students’ beliefs about science and whether these beliefs differed from their peers who did not participate in the program, and (b) to examine a case study of one Studio STEM implementation to investigate elements of the curriculum that motivated students to engage in the program. Results: After completing two Studio STEM programs, participants’ ratings of their values for science and science competence were higher than those of non participants. In addition, the Studio STEM participants’ motivational beliefs about science and intentions to pursue a college degree were more resilient over time than their peers. We also found that students could be motivated in a voluntary afterschool program (Studio STEM) in which they grappled with STEM concepts and activities, and could verbalize specific program elements that motivated them. Conclusions: Through this study, we found that students could be motivated in Studio STEM and that the experience had a positive impact on their perceptions about science as a field. Importantly, Studio STEM appeared to halt the decline in these students’ motivational beliefs about science that typically occurs during the middle school years, indicating that after school programs can be one way to help students maintain their motivation in science. Studying the program features that the students found motivating may help educators to make connections between research and theory, and their classroom instruction to motivate their students.ECU Open Access Publishing Support Fun

Ковчег Ноя: рух матерії у Сонячній системі та на ядерних рівнях Землі

У Стародавньому світі пророку Мойсею було відкрито таємницю створення світу. Як науковий геній свого часу, Мойсей зашифрував у алегоричну форму в родоводі Адама і Потопі прикладну науку про будову ядра Землі, Сонячної системи і рухи космічної водневої і сонячної вуглецевої матерій (енергій) крізь Землю.В Древнем мире пророку Моисею была открыта тайна создания мира. Как научный гений своего времени Моисей зашифровал в форму аллегории в родословной Адама и Потопе прикладную науку о строении ядра Земли, Солнечной системы и движениях космической водородной и солнечной углеродной материи (энергии) сквозь Землю.In the Ancient history the mystery of the Creation of the world was revealed to the Prophet Moses. As a scientific genius of that époque Moses codified in allegoric way in the genealogy of Adam and The Flood the applied science on the structure of the Earth core, of the Solar System and motion of cosmic hydrogenous and solar carbonic substance (energy) through the Earth

College student's academic goals and learning strategies

Tomando en cuenta que no existe concordancia en la literatura entre los resultados de diferentes estudios respecto de la relevancia de la adopción de un tipo u otro de meta para el aprendizaje académico, en el presente artículo se estudia la relación entre los diferentes tipos de orientaciones motivacionales (metas de aprendizaje, metas de rendimiento y metas de evitación del trabajo) y el uso de estrategias cognitivas y de autorregulación. En el trabajo participan 632 estudiantes universitarios de diversas titulaciones de la universidad española. Aunque el estudio es de tipo correlacional, los análisis de los datos obtenidos, corroborando estudios anteriores, aportan información de interés para la discusión del problema que se investigó, por ejemplo que sólo los niveles más altos de metas de aprendizaje se encuentran asociados con una mayor utilización de estrategias de aprendizaje. Son discutidas implicaciones educativas de estos datos.Tomando em consideração que não existe concordância na literatura entre os resultados dos diferentes estudos a respeito da relevância da adopção de um ou de outro tipo de meta na aprendizagem académica; no presente artículo é estudada a relação entre os diferentes tipos de orientações motivacionais (metas de aprendizagem, metas de rendimento e metas de evitação do trabalho) e a utilização de estratégias cognitivas e de autoregulação. Neste trabalho participam 632 estudantes universitários de diversas licenciaturas da Universidade espanhola. Apesar de este estudo ser de tipo correlacional, a análise dos dados obtidos, corroborando estudos anteriores, aporta informação de interesse para a discussão do problema investigado; por exemplo que só os níveles mais altos de metas de aprendizagem se encontram associados con uma maior utilização de estratégias de aprendizagem. São discutidas implicações educativas destes dados.Assuming that there isn’t much agreement among the results from different studies relating to the relevance of adopting one or another kind of academic learning goal, this paper intends to study the relationship between the several types of motivational orientations (learning goals, achievement goals and avoidance goals) and the use of cognitive and self-regulatory strategies. 632 Spanish college students from various university courses participated in this research. Although this is a correlacional study data analysis, in line with previous studies, brings to light interesting information and highlights the investigated issue for example only higher levels of learning goals are positively related with the use of learning strategies. Future educational implications are also discussed

Learning environment, attitudes and anxiety across the transition from primary to secondary school mathematics

Past research has revealed that, relative to primary-school students, high-school students have less-positive attitudes to mathematics and perceive their classroom environments and teacher–student relationships less favourably. This study involved the transition experience of 541 students in 47 classes in 15 primary (year 7) and secondary (year 8) government and Catholic schools in metropolitan and regional South Australia. Scales were adapted from three established instruments, namely, the What Is Happening In this Class?, Test of Mathematics Related Attitudes and Revised Mathematics Anxiety Ratings Scale, to identify changes across the transition from primary to secondary school in terms of the classroom learning environment and students’ attitude/anxiety towards mathematics. Relative to year 7 students, year 8 students reported less Involvement, less positive Attitude to Mathematical Inquiry, less Enjoyment of Mathematics and greater Mathematics Anxiety. Differences between students in Years 7 and 8 were very similar for male and female students, although the magnitude of sex differences in attitudes was slightly different in Years 7 and 8