How the learning context affects adolescents’ goal orientation, effort, and learning strategies

Abstract

Research has shown that there are positive associations between students' goals and learning behavior. However, less is known about these associations for adolescent students in competency-based learning compared to adolescent students in teacher-directed learning. The current study was conceptualized with the aim of getting more in-depth information about competency-based learning with a competency matrix based on trait-based scales for students' self-assessment vs. teacher-directed learning. The sample consists of 846 (M_age = 14.06; SD = 0.94) middle adolescent students (8^th-9^th grades) from secondary schools in Germany. By using latent mean comparison and multigroup structural equation modelling in Mplus, it could be shown that the association between mastery goals and learning behavior is stronger in competency-based learning and performance-approach goals have a positive effect to effort investment. Furthermore, students of competency-based learning report higher values in mastery goals, effort investment and elaboration.

Keywords:

• Competency-based learning
• competency matrix
• achievement goal orientation
• adaptive learning behavior
• secondary education
• adolescence