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The aim of this paper is to offer an insight into innovative teaching approaches in History, based on the different theoretical perspectives that have been tackled over the last 15 years. In order to achieve this purpose, the paper includes a descriptive summary divided into four central themes (digital tools, new methodologies, transformation of teaching culture and evaluation of innovation), with particular emphasis on a series of concepts and empirical experiences. Among other things, the study reveals that students’ motivation is of the upmost importance not only in this study, but also in the education model which is currently being sought implement. When faced, however, with overoptimism and a lack of criticism of said model, there arises the need for a more rigorous discussion to compare innovative discourses and educational practices. -- El objetivo de este trabajo es ofrecer una panorámica a través de las diferentes perspectivas teóricas desde las que se ha venido abordando la cuestión de la innovación didáctica en la materia de Historia durante los últimos quince años. Para ello se elabora una síntesis descriptiva dividida en cuatro ejes temáticos (herramientas digitales, nuevas metodologías, transformación de la cultura docente y evaluación de la innovación), destacando una serie de conceptos y experiencias empíricas en cada uno de ellos. Entre otras cosas, tal procedimiento revela que la motivación del alumnado es el centro de interés tanto de este campo de investigación como del modelo educativo que hoy se está intentando implementar. Sin embargo, frente al exceso de optimismo y actitudes acríticas detectado respecto a este último, se defiende la necesidad de aumentar la rigurosidad a la hora de comparar discursos innovadores y prácticas educativas.

The scientific literature provides empirical evidence on the relationship between school engagement and numerous important variables of the adolescents’ educational context. The school engagement has been related, among other important constructs, with burnout of both teachers and students, school performance, satisfaction with the school, behavioral disruption, goal orientation and motivational climate in the classroom. Because of it, the aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between perceived motivational class climate and students’ academic achievement, with school engagement acting as a mediator. A sample of 2028 teenagers completed various instruments to measure the perception of motivational climate, perceived basic psychological needs satisfaction, perceived autonomy support provided by the teacher, and academic achievement. The data were analyzed using a structural equation model with observed variables (path analysis). The results have shown a significant relationship between motivational climate and school engagement, and of this with academic achievement. It should also be highlighted the direct relationship of perceived competence and perceived autonomy support with perception of academic success. Of the three variables to be predicted (Portuguese and Mathematics marks and Academic success), the largest percentage of variance explained was the one of academic success. The results are discussed within the framework of achievement goal theory, the self-determined motivation, and in terms of contributing practical issues to adolescents’ teaching-learning process.

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El objetivo del artículo es realizar un diagnóstico sobre la percepción de los factores que intervienen en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes de cinco carreras universitarias en una escuela de educación superior en México, para así reconocer las áreas de oportunidad que permitan sugerir políticas y estrategias para elevar su rendimiento. Se utilizó una muestra de 1651 estudiantes, se obtuvieron los datos a partir de un cuestionario con treinta preguntas que estudian la percepción del rendimiento académico en escala tipo Likert. Se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio que permitiera reducir los datos, facilitar la interpretación y validar el instrumento. Se identificaron tres factores: a) el rol de los profesores, b) la evaluación y c) la motivación de los estudiantes. Se llevó a cabo un análisis comparativo por carrera. Se encontró que los estudiantes perciben que la mayoría de los maestros no se preocupan por la condición de los jóvenes en situación de reprobación. Además, casi no motivan y carecen de expresiones de sentimientos de orgullo por los logros académicos de los estudiantes. La mitad de los participantes piensa que los docentes no cubren el temario en su totalidad. Se detectó que los estudiantes poseen una alta motivación siendo esto positivo porque son alumnos dedicados y responsables. Se concluye realizando una serie de sugerencias y explicando las implicaciones que tiene este trabajo para las instituciones de educación superior.

Las dicotomías como éxito/fracaso, permanencia/abandono etc. pueden tener la ventaja de simplificar algunos problemas o permitir comparaciones espaciales y temporales, pero tienen el inconveniente de desdeñar todos los matices cuando la gama de desempeños, actitudes y respuestas de los alumnos en la institución escolar es, en realidad, enormemente más rica y diversa. Por un lado, crea artificialmente una divisoria de aguas a partir de grandes pero también de pequeñas diferencias, tal vez ocasionales y posiblemente mal entendidas y mal evaluadas. Por otro, oculta el creciente desapego del alumnado frente a la cultura y las demandas de la institución escolar. En todo caso, pone de manifiesto la tendencia de la institución y la profesión a las simplificaciones y a la categorización, por encima de la retórica en torno a la diversificación de la enseñanza y la personalización del aprendizaje.Dichotomies such us success/failure, retention/dropping out etc. may have the virtue of the simplification of some questions, as well as allow spatial and temporal comparisons, but they also present the shortcoming of disdaining details and nuances, as the spectrum of performances, attitudes and responses of pupils in school is, to be true, immensely more rich and diverse. On the one side, it artificially creates a divide where before there were major but maybe minor differences, perhaps simply occasional and probably misunderstood and misestimated. On the other side, it hides the growing detachment of pupils with respect to school culture and demands. In any case, it makes manifest the institution's drift towards simplifications and categorizations, overcoming the rhetoric around teaching diversification and learning personalization.

Compulsory Secondary Education student’s opinion on Physical Education is a matter of great interest for teachers; there are numerous variables that determine it. This research analyzed the influence of the interest shown by students towards the course caused by different aspects: students’ grade level, gender, importance given to the class, their physical-sports practice, the context in which the class is given and the teacher’s Physical Education degree. To this end, a Questionnaire for Analyzing Students' Opinions on Physical Education (for its acronym in Spanish CAPAEF) was applied to a sample of 1,499 students in first and second grades of Compulsory Secondary Education, in the Murcia Region; the questionnaire was designed specifically for this research. As a result of this study, it was concluded that among the students who showed great interest for Physical Education, the objectives that stood out were related to health, education, competition and the curriculum of the courses of Physical Condition and Health as well as Games and Sports, but not Corporal Expression. These same students chose it as their favorite class, they did not accept reduction of hours, they considered the classes were useful, easy and motivating; they found a lot of support from the teacher, given that he had a good nature, was pleasant, comprehensive, cheerful and fair, besides of the fact that he was committed to the class.

Motivation studies have focused on three aspects that are important for their educational implications: relevant variables for assessing motivation to attend school; motivational differences between students with different academic performance, and changes in motivation as they advance in school. Considering these aspects, the present study was developed with these objectives: to develop, and to set up the validity and reliability of a psychometric instrument for investigating how people perceive different motivational variables regarding various school activities typical of the Mexican junior high school; and to find out whether there is a relationship between motivational variables and academic achievement, grade level and gender. The results indicate that academic performance is related to the way motivation is perceived, that students change their perception of motivation during their school life, and that boys and girls differ concerning this only in some respects.

The aim of the present paper is to understand how university students learn, and to comprehend the motivations and learning strategies they use when deciding in what field to major. We chose a combined research design: qualitative and quantitative. We applied the Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Learning and Studying Processes (CEPEA) to Biochemistry students attending the National University of Tucumán (Argentina), and performed individual semi-structured interviews. Cluster analysis allowed us to identify three groups of students having who use different learning approaches: deep, superficial and ambivalent. We found that learning approaches are closely related with some teaching practices that encourage or inhibit them; among these are the types of learning evaluation.

Copyright of Cadernos de Pesquisa is the property of Fundacao Carlos Chagas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Motivation studies have focused on three aspects that are important for their educational implications: relevant variables for assessing motivation to attend school; motivational differences between students with different academic performance, and changes in motivation as they advance in school. Considering these aspects, the present study was developed with these objectives: to develop, and to set up the validity and reliability of a psychometric instrument for investigating how people perceive different motivational variables regarding various school activities typical of the Mexican junior high school; and to find out whether there is a relationship between motivational variables and academic achievement, grade level and gender. The results indicate that academic performance is related to the way motivation is perceived, that students change their perception of motivation during their school life, and that boys and girls differ concerning this only in some respects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way that the secondary education students see Physical Education is an issue of great interest to teachers. There are numerous variables that determine this view. In our research, we have analyzed how the student's interest toward the subject influences different aspects related to Physical Education, i.e. the students' gender, the importance attached to Physical Education, the student's sports and physical activity, the context in which this activity is carried out, and the kind of qualification held by the Physical Education teacher. For this purpose, we have used a C.A.P.A.E.F. (Questionnaire for Analyzing Students' Perceptions in Physical Education), specifically prepared for this research, on a sample of 1,499 students of the first and second cycles of Secondary Education of the Autonomous Region of Murcia. The main conclusions we have reached are the following: those students who show a great interest in Physical Education emphasize those objectives related to Health, Education and Competition, as well as Physical Condition and Health, and Games and Sports contents, with less value to Self-Expression Through Movement; they attach great importance to Physical Education, which is their favorite subject, and do not agree to reduce the number of lessons; they find Physical Education classes useful, easy and motivating, and find great support in their teachers as they are friendly, nice, understanding, cheerful and fair, and take a participative role in classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Enseñanza & Teaching (2386-3919) is the property of Ensenanza & Teaching and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)