Motivators of Educational Success: Perceptions of Grade 12 Aboriginal Students

Authors

  • Jane P. Preston University of Prince Edward Island
  • Tim R. Claypool University of Saskatchewan

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to identify motivators that support educational success, as perceived by Aboriginal high school students enrolled in two urban Saskatchewan schools. Twelve semi-structured individual interviews revealed that students were motivated by a hospitable school culture, relevant learning opportunities, and positive personal influences outside the realm of the school (e.g., family role models and Elder influence). Utilizing an Aboriginal worldview lens, student motivation stemmed from experiencing four quadrants of learning—awareness (physical), knowledge (mental), continuous improvement (emotional), and perseverance (spiritual). An implication is that educators need to incorporate features of Aboriginal pedagogy when teaching.
Keywords: motivational learning, Aboriginal high school students, Aboriginal worldview

Author Biographies

Jane P. Preston, University of Prince Edward Island

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education (as of July 1, 2012)

Tim R. Claypool, University of Saskatchewan

Associate Professor, College of Education

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Published

2014-07-04

How to Cite

Preston, J. P., & Claypool, T. R. (2014). Motivators of Educational Success: Perceptions of Grade 12 Aboriginal Students. Canadian Journal of Education/Revue Canadienne De l’éducation, 36(4), 257. Retrieved from https://journals.sfu.ca/cje/index.php/cje-rce/article/view/1233

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Articles