Estructuras de aprendizaje y métodos cooperativos en educación

Abstract

This study deals with some important dimensions within the pedagogical research area whose core is the motivational process in school settings. After having raised the relationship between motivation and interpersonal processes the main goal structures in education (competitive, cooperative, and individualistic structures) are defined. Taking into account Carole Ames approach (University of Illinois), the same number of motivational systems («ability-evaluative», «task-mastery», and «moral-responsibility») are also identified. Next, we centre on the cooperative learning structures describing several methods and techniques and, at the same time, we examine their effects on the students achievement. Then, we pay attention to the need of further and better research about the influence of mediational processes on the effects and/or outcomes of classroom cooperative activities. And, finally, we briefly refer to some relevant shortages and problems in this field of educational research.