The Impact of a Compulsory Web-based Course on Preservice Teachers’ Motivational Profile

1. The Impact of a Compulsory Web-based Course on Preservice Teachers’ Motivational Profile Thierry Karsenti, Université de Montréal

2. OBJECTIVE • To understand the motivational impact of a compulsory open and distance learning course on prospective teachers’ motivational profile

3. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK • Motivation according to Deci and Ryan (1985, 1991) • Feelings of competence • Feelings of self-determination • Feelings of affiliation and belonging

4. Figure 1. Representation of the Self-determination Continuum Developed by Deci and Ryan (1985, 1991, 2000).

5. METHOD • Subjects429 student teachers (331 females, 98 males) in their fourth year of a four-year teaching education program were selected to participate.

6. A motivation scale was administered three times to all students who were participating in the project. (week 0-1 ; week 3-4 ; week 12-13)

7. Results of this study are also the product of the analysis of semi-structured, individual interviews (n = 72) conducted with students as well as the analysis of focus groups held in chat rooms (n = 24).

8. PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

9. The results obtained by the students enrolled in the Web-based course, in the first motivation test, are relatively equivalent to those of other university students enrolled in “regular in-class courses” at the beginning of the semester.

10. The students’ average score for the second motivation test (week 4), at a time when they were completely aware of the organization of the Web-based course, is significantly lower than the average score obtained in the first test (p < 0,0001), as shown in Figure 1.

11. Table 1. Average score of students’ motivation Change between Week 4 and Week 1 (n = 429)

12. The average score obtained by the students in the third motivation test (week 12-13) is significantly higher than the average score in the first (p < 0,0001) and second tests (p < 0,0001).

13. Table 2. Average score of students’ motivational profile for Week 1, 4 and 13 (n = 429)

14. The analysis of the interviews conducted with the students, the transcripts of conversations held in CHAT mode also highlight the way in which a Web-based course promoted the students’ feelings of self-determination , competence and affiliation.

15. Table 3 : Results of the content analysis of interviews with regard to the advantages of Web-based courses

16. CONCLUSIONWhile the analysis of the results reveal the positive impact of a course given on the Web on the students’ motivation, our results also unveil the fact that all students may not be ready to handle such autonomy or self-determination.

17. The gap between the university classroom and the virtual classroom is substantial, and is often difficult to bridge. This gap is particularly evident when we observe the significant decrease in the students’ motivation after only four weeks of the distance education course.

18. The students’ results on the motivation tests seem to highlight the reluctance felt and hardships encountered at the beginning of the implementation of the distance education course.

19. Nonetheless, these results also show that the motivation of students at the end of the course was much higher than when the course first began or in the third week… when a certain effort was required simply to get adjusted to this particular kind of higher education learning context.