The role of goal orientations and the use of digital media in the classroom quality in the final grades of elementary education

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the characteristics and predictor role of goal orientations in learning, the level of digital media equipment in schools and the use of digital media in classroom (teaching) quality in lower secondary education (ISCED level 2). The study included seventh and eighth grade students (N=432) of elementary schools in the City of Zagreb and Split-Dalmatia County. Besides demographic characteristics of students and the level of digital media equipment in schools, the data were collected by the Goal orientation questionnaire (CSRL), the Technology implementation questionnaire (TIQ), and Student perception of classroom quality questionnaire (SPOCQ). It was concluded that, overall, demographic characteristics of students, their goal orientations, the level of digital media equipment in schools and motivation for the use of digital media are significant predictors of student perception of classroom quality, with the highest percentage of variance explained by goal orientations and with emphasis on learning orientation. In this regard, it is evident that for the teaching quality in the digital age, goal orientation, i.e., motivation for learning, is more significant than the use of digital media. Comparison with theoretical postulates and implications of these results are explained in this paper.