A case study on goal orientations for teaching

Abstract

The present research aimed to explore actions, views, and emotions in relation to teachers’ goal orientations and the reflection of goal orientations on their teaching practices. The study also aimed to compare whether there were differences among teachers’ practices based on their goal orientations. A case study design was adopted and 10 teachers who taught in different schools and school levels participated in the study. Those 10 teachers were grouped into two goal orientations; those with Learning-Mastery-Goal-Orientations (L-M-GO) and those with Learning-Mastery-Performance-Goal-Orientations (L-M-P-GO). A questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were held with teachers and the collected data were analysed using qualitative techniques. The results suggested while all teachers-regardless of their goal orientations-defined themselves as individuals who made efforts to learn, those with L-M-P-GO orientations experienced negative emotions and ideas in their learning journeys. Moreover, all teachers reported that there were certain cases where they avoided work. There were differences between teachers’ classroom practices and ideas based on their goal orientations.