Publication
Title
Teachers' motivating style and students' motivation and engagement in STEM : the relationship between three key educational concepts
Author
Abstract
A key theme in the science education literature concerns the reluctance of students to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Self-determination theory (SDT) states that social factors in an educational setting, such as teachers motivating style, can influence students motivation and engagement. This paper investigates the relationship between STEM teachers motivating style (autonomy support, provision of structure, involvement) and students motivation and engagement with regard to STEM. Furthermore, the relationship between students motivation and students engagement is investigated. Thirty classroom observations were conducted in different STEM lessons, to assess teachers motivating style and students engagement. The students motivation was assessed at the end of the school year, using an online questionnaire. The results reveal that STEM teachers provision of structure is positively linked to students motivation and engagement with regard to STEM subjects. The impact of teachers autonomy support was negatively predictive for students autonomous motivation, and positively predictive for students engagement. A negative relationship between students controlled motivation and engagement was found. Based on these results, this study suggests that taking teachers motivating style into account in future educational initiatives regarding STEM is highly relevant as a means of stimulating students motivation and engagement.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Research in Science Education
Research in science education. - Place of publication unknown
Publication
2021
ISSN
1573-1898
DOI
10.1007/S11165-019-9830-3
Volume/pages
51 (2021) , p. 109-127
ISI
000706145000006
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
VABB-SHW
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 05.03.2019
Last edited 06.01.2025
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