Concepedia

Abstract

This paper considers ways in which a model of motivational processes that describes children as internalizing learning or performance goals can incorporate situated and sociocultural features without losing its explanatory power. It analyzes the relationship between dispositional and situational factors within a pattern of interwoven socioculturally derived social identities or intents. Data come from an interpretive case study of 4-year-olds working on everyday technology in a kindergarten. The analysis of five main activities suggests that learning orientations - learning and performance goals- were being attached to social identity. Four processes illustrate the complex and shifting system of socially situated learning orientation: appropriation and display; shifts from one intent to another; niche fitting and forming; and mergers and invasions.