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Influencing factors for secondary one students’ engagement in physics lessons, educational and career aspirations and the implications
Citation
Paper presented at the 4th Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference, Singapore, 30 May to 1 June 2011
Abstract
This paper reports on crucial factors that could influence students’ learning of Physics at three
different stages of their lives: 1) lower secondary school, 2) post-secondary school or tertiary education, and 3) career. A sample of 275 secondary 1 students in a school in Singapore
responded to several survey items on a six-point scale (from disagree strongly to agree strongly).
The factors derived from the survey items include students’ interest, self-efficacy, competence,
and parents’ expectations as internal and external factors, which may influence outcomes such as engagement, future educational aspiration, and career aspiration in physics. By determining the influencing factors and the seriousness of the implications, educators and parents could play their role effectively in cultivating the necessary characteristics in students for their optimum benefit.
Date Issued
2011