The role of personal attributes and social support factors on passive behaviour in classroom among secondary school students: a prospective study

The effect of flipped learning on students' basic psychological needs and its association with self-esteem

BACKGROUND

Modification of the learning environment enhances academic performance, and meta-motivational skills. Yet it is largely unknown which underlying cause potentiates these effects. The study's goal is to analyse flipped classroom (FC) effect on basic psychological needs and self-esteem.

METHODS

40 undergraduate medical students participated in a one-site two phased study. In Phase I, students attended a traditional lecture-based classroom (TC). In Phase II, the same group attended FC. Upon completion of each Phase students completed two questionnaires: Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, and Rosenberg self-esteem scale.

RESULTS

Autonomy satisfaction was significantly higher in FC (n = 40, z = 5.520, p < .001), the same tendency was seen for Competence satisfaction in FC (n = 40, z = 5.122, p < .001). As for the frustration of all three needs, the statistical difference was observed for all three subscales between TC and FC. In FC, autonomy (n = 40, z = - 5.370, p < .001), relatedness (n = 40, z = 4.187, p < .001), and competence (n = 40, z = - 5.323, p < .001) frustration was significantly lower. Self-esteem was significantly higher in FC (n = 40, z = 5.528, p < .001). In TC self-esteem negatively correlated with autonomy frustration, (r(38) = - 0.430, p < .01), and competence frustration, (r(38) = - 0.379, p < .05). In FC, self-esteem positively correlated with autonomy satisfaction (r(38) = 0.316, p < .05), and competence satisfaction (r(38) = 0.429, p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

FC better fulfils students' basic psychological needs, specifically needs for autonomy and competence, and self-esteem compared to TC. Collaborative work, and academic scaffolding, contributes to behavioural engagement of students in the learning process. FC with the main focus on students' active involvement may better meet millennials' needs. Implementing validated questionnaires to measure students' psychological needs should become a regular practice in medical schools, specifically during the process of curriculum redesign.

Multidimensional profiles of learning orientations and school achievement: a person-oriented approach in middle-school students

A person-oriented approach was applied to the study of early adolescents’ learning orientations to identify different profiles and their association with school achievement. A total of 244 middle-school students (male: 128; female: 116; M-age ± SD = 12.51 ± .93) completed a self-report questionnaire to explore cognitive, metacognitive, and affective dimensions of learning orientations. School achievements were collected in a range of school subjects. Cluster analyses and one-way MANOVA were carried out to verify the existence of profiles. Chi-square tests were used to test the association between profiles of learning orientations and school achievement. The results showed two profiles differently associated with school achievement: students “Dragged by the current” (Profile 1) showed low school achievement across school subjects, meanwhile students “At the helm” (Profile 2) reached excellent school achievement. In promoting middle-school students’ achievement, it is important for teachers to consider students’ profiles of learning orientations.

Introversion and Social Engagement: Scale Validation, Their Interaction, and Positive Association With Self-Esteem

Learning through social interaction has been documented widely; however, how introverted people are socially engaged in learning is largely unknown. The aim of this study was, first, to examine the reliability and validity of the social engagement scale among students at Finnish comprehensive schools. Then, we aimed to examine the interaction effect of introversion and social engagement on self-esteem, schoolwork engagement, and school burnout. Based on a sample of 862 ninth grade students in Finland, we found that a two-factor model best fitted the social engagement scale (i.e., social engagement and social disengagement). Further, we found that introverts with high social engagement have higher self-esteem than introverts with low social engagement. Our results implied that introverts should be given extra support when they encounter group work in school.