Lessons with Living Harvest Mice: An Empirical Study of Their Effects on Intrinsic Motivation and Knowledge Acquisition

Autor/inn/en	Wilde, Matthias; Hubmann, Jona Samuel; Lorenzen, Simone; Meyer, Annika; Randler, Christoph
Titel	Lessons with Living Harvest Mice: An Empirical Study of Their Effects on Intrinsic Motivation and Knowledge Acquisition
Quelle	In: International Journal of Science Education, 34 (2012) 18, S.2797-2810 (14 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0950-0693
DOI	10.1080/09500693.2012.654829
Schlagwörter	Laptop Computers; Motivation; Student Attitudes; Animals; Test Construction; Control Groups; Experimental Groups; Grade 5; Student Motivation; Pretests Posttests; Visual Aids; Biology; Hands on Science; Science Education; Constructivism (Learning); Self Determination; Foreign Countries; Likert Scales; Intervention; Statistical Analysis; Science Experiments; West Germany + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Laptop computer; Laptop; Computer; Digitalrechner; psychologische; Motivation (psychologisch); Schülerverhalten; Animal; Tier; Tiere; Testaufbau; School year 05; 5. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 05; Schulische Motivation; Anschauungsmaterial; Biologie; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Selbstbestimmung; Ausland; Likert-Skala; Statistische Analyse
Abstract	The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of living animals on pupils' intrinsic motivation and knowledge. Various studies from the late 1970s and 1980s stress the high effectiveness of authentic learning experiences in pupils' knowledge acquisition. However, there are only few current empirical studies on this topic. The research question of our study is to assess whether the use of living animals in the biology classroom supports intrinsic motivation and knowledge acquisition. In a pre-/post-test design, 185 fifth graders received two different treatments: the experimental group (N = 74) was taught with living harvest mice ("Micromys minutus") and the control group (N = 111) received lessons with the same content which was presented in short film clips on laptop computers. Knowledge acquisition was assessed with open-ended and closed questions, while intrinsic motivation was tested with an adapted version of the "Intrinsic Motivation Inventory" (IMI). There were no differences in knowledge acquisition between the treatments. However, the results of the IMI showed significant differences in favour of the experimental group in interest/enjoyment, perceived competence, and perceived autonomy. Thus, living animals exert a positive influence on motivation. (Contains 2 tables and 3 figures.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10