Goal Orientation and its Relationship to Academic Success in a Laptop-based BScN Program

This longitudinal study, conducted within a laptop-based BScN program examines the relationship of goal orientation profiles to comfort with technology and academic success. In phase 1 of this study, 101 first year nursing students completed an on line survey. The measurement tools used were Goal Orientation Assessment, Multiple Intelligences Learning Inventory and a locally developed Technology Comfort survey. Results showed that students were predominately high in the mastery goal orientation profile. Males had a higher comfort level with technology. Age was inversely related to comfort with technology. An unexpected finding was that grade point average was inversely related to comfort with use of technology. The data did not support the commonly held belief that today’s students are uniformly well-skilled and comfortable with new technologies. This study will continue over the next three years and will allow comparison of variables over time. Specific teaching interventions may be developed to accommodate varying learning and motivational styles in relation to comfort with technology.

[1]  Margaret Haughey,et al.  Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace: Effective Strategies for the Online Classroom by Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt , 2000 .

[2]  P. Candy,et al.  Linking thinking: self-directed learning in the digital age , 2004 .

[3]  Mike Moore,et al.  Distance Education: A Systems View , 1995 .

[4]  J. Mathieu,et al.  Goal Orientation in Organizational Research: A Conceptual and Empirical Foundation , 1996 .

[5]  S. Brookfield.  Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning , 1986 .

[6]  S. Gully,et al.  Role of goal orientation, ability, need for achievement, and locus of control in the self-efficacy and goal--setting process. , 1997 .

[7]  Carol S. Dweck,et al.  Motivational processes affecting learning. , 1986 .

[8]  A. Kenny.  Online learning: enhancing nurse education? , 2002, Journal of advanced nursing.

[9]  A. Elliot,et al.  A HIERARCHICAL MODEL OF APPROACH AND AVOIDANCE ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION , 1997 .

[10]  Diana G. Oblinger.  Boomers, Gen-Xers, and Millennials: Understanding the "New Students.". , 2003 .

[11]  Charles A. Schwartz,et al.  Managing technological change: strategies for college and university leaders , 2000 .

[12]  Jennifer Archer,et al.  Achievement Goals as a Measure of Motivation in University Students , 1994 .

[13]  Michael J. Middleton,et al.  Avoiding the demonstration of lack of ability: An underexplored aspect of goal theory. , 1997 .

[14]  P. Pintrich.  Multiple Goals, Multiple Pathways: The Role of Goal Orientation in Learning and Achievement. , 2000 .

[15]  L Halloran,et al.  A comparison of two methods of teaching. Computer managed instruction and keypad questions versus traditional classroom lecture. , 1995, Computers in nursing.

[16]  Eleanor M. Smith,et al.  Relationships of goal orientation, metacognitive activity, and practice strategies with learning outcomes and transfer , 1998 .

[17]  Marcia J. Simmering,et al.  Conscientiousness, goal orientation, and motivation to learn during the learning process: A longitudinal study. , 1998 .

[18]  C. Dweck,et al.  A social-cognitive approach to motivation and personality , 1988 .

[19]  S I Austin,et al.  Baccalaureate nursing faculty performance of nursing computer literacy skills and curriculum integration of these skills through teaching practice. , 1999, The Journal of nursing education.

[20]  Diane Billings,et al.  Teaching learners from varied generations. , 2004, Journal of continuing education in nursing.

[21]  Sandra L. Fisher,et al.  DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF LEARNER EFFORT AND GOAL ORIENTATION ON TWO LEARNING OUTCOMES , 1998 .

[22]  A. W. Bates,et al.  Effective Teaching with Technology in Higher Education: Foundations for Success , 2003 .

[23]  N. Howe,et al.  Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation , 2000 .

[24]  J. Bachman,et al.  Enabling student nurses to use the information superhighway. , 1998, The Journal of nursing education.

[25]  L. J. Perrot,et al.  Measuring Student Motivation in Health Professions' Colleges , 2001, Advances in health sciences education : theory and practice.

[26]  C. Dweck,et al.  Goals: an approach to motivation and achievement. , 1988, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[27]  M Ryan,et al.  Evaluation of traditional classroom teaching methods versus course delivery via the World Wide Web. , 1999, The Journal of nursing education.

[28]  James Efaw,et al.  Miracle or Menace: Teaching and Learning with Laptop Computers in the Classroom , 2004 .

[29]  G. Brown.  Technology in nurse education: a communication teaching strategy. , 1999, The ABNF journal : official journal of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty in Higher Education, Inc.