Motivation and collaboration as cultural ways of learning among rural Mapuche children of La Araucanía

Abstract

This study explores the family and community cultural expressions which are present among mapuche students in the rural schools. It is an ethnographic study performed in three rural schools in the Region of La Araucanía, Chile. We carried out systematic observations during eight months in different moments of the school routine. We registered 50 observational situations that we named scenarios. The content analysis was used to analyze data from videos and field notes. The results indicate that children demonstrate intrinsic motivation and initiative to participate in school activities, they show great autonomy to create learning instances both in classroom endeavors and in the playground. Students preferred collaborative and group tasks rather than individuals. Through collective activities students show promotion of cooperation, mutual care, and flexible role of leadership. These characteristics were consistent with the socialization and learning process within mapuche culture and society, and the model of learning through observation and pitching in (LOPI).