Variation

Some sources of variation, common to most learning contexts, are presented below. These sources are usually attributable to contrasting forms of motivation, intention, process, context, prior knowledge. Some sources of variation, common to most learning contexts. are presented below. These sources are usually attributable to contrasting forms of motivation, intention, process, context, prior knowledge.

Some ExplanatorySources of Variation in Student Learning
Observable	As operationalized in responses to questions like:	Dimensions of Variation

Intention

What are you trying to do?

• Seek understanding - ‘make personal sense’

• Memorize in order to understand

• Memorize in order to reproduce

• Understand in order to memorize

• ‘Play the system’

• Seek high levels of achievement

Motivation

Why are you doing it?

• Intrinsic interest in object of study

• Pass examinations with minimal effort

• Perceived future relevance or application

• Need to meet external demands or fulfill ‘duty’

• Enjoyment of peer competition

Process

How are you going about it?

What are you doing?

• Explore subject beyond formal requirements

• ‘Interrogate’ subject - ask questions of it

• Relate new knowledge to prior knowledge

• Repeated rehearsal or recitation

• Practice on previous examination papers

• Various forms of study ‘methods’

Context

How do you perceive the learning environment?

What does the learning environment require of you?

• Perceived criteria for success - task demands

• Attributes of learning materials

• Teacher’s intentions - signalling of ‘cues’

• Workload

• Freedom of choice

Prior Knowledge

What do you think ‘learning’ means?

Accumulating information

Transforming information into knowledge: constructing meaning

Changing as a person

Some Explanatory Sources of Variation in Student Learning
Observable	As operationalized in responses to questions like:	Dimensions of Variation