Classroom Quality in Final Grades of Lower Secondary Education: Demographic Differences and Relationship with Target Learning Orientations / Kvaliteta nastave u završnim razredima nižeg sekundarnog obrazovanja: demografske razlike i povezanost s ciljnim

Abstract

The goal of the research was to examine the features of classroom quality concerning gender, grade and general academic record, and the connection with target orientations in learning among students in the final grades of primary school (lower secondary education, ISCED level 2). Seventh-and eighth-grade students (N=512) from Split-Dalmatia County and the City of Zagreb participated in the research. The questionnaire was used to collect demographic data (gender, grade and final academic record). For data regarding self-assessment of classroom quality, we used the Student Perception of Classroom Quality Questionnaire-SPOCQ. Data about target orientations was collected through the Components of Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaire-CRSL. The given results show that students, regardless of age, gender or general academic record, mostly perceive classes as average on all quality dimensions and are inclined to all three learning orientations somewhat above average. Furthermore, aspects of classroom quality were shown as the most significant predictors of all individual target orientations in learning, considering the fact that almost one third of the learning orientation is explained with classroom quality, but very little is directed to performance or avoiding effort.