Part of my research was based on these 6 peer reviewed articles that all have to do with choice in the classroom. They all revolve around a common theme about choice, but they touch different ideas on how to include choice in the classroom.
The effectiveness and relative importance of choice in the classroom
This article was about a study done on classrooms where they were asked if they would rather choose homework or just be assigned homework. The results were that they wanted to have a choice instead of being given activities to do. When students were given the choice to choose what they wanted to do their motivation for homework went up! Students felt better about doing homework, and eventually performed better on their unit test.
When Choice Motivates and When It Does Not
This article spoke about how choice can be a great thing, but sometimes it is used in the classroom inappropriately and not productive for students. Choice is motivating when the options are relevant to the students’ interests and goals! When they have the choice to make decisions that don’t matter in the long run they’re less likely to motivate them.
Are Choice-Making Opportunities Needed in the Classroom?
This article talks about how choice making is even important to students that are in college! We all learn differently and in order to be fully engaged in what we’re learning we need to have choices. Some students don’t get as much out of a project when they didn’t do it the way they wanted.
A Systematic Review of the Evidence Base for Instructional Choice in K–12 Settings
This is an article talking about a study they did on choice in the classroom and it’s effect on student behavior. They found that when giving students choice their academic involvement increased while their distracting behavior decreased. They even dive into the process of inquiry which is a subject that my professors have been discussing all semester.
The effects of choice in the classroom: Is there too little or too much choice?
This article speaks on the motivation aspect of choice in the classroom. The older students get the less motivated they seem to do work and grow academically. Choice is emphasized as a huge solution to this problem, and could help students be more engaged in school.
Choice Matters: Equity and Literacy Achievement
This article talk about the importance of choice when it comes to picking their own literature. When a book reflects what the student’s interests are they’re more likely to want to read. There isn’t solid evidence that choice of literature has an impact on reading performance in the long run, but it does engage them to read and start to enjoy the books they’re reading.
Citations
Patall, E. A., Cooper, H., & Wynn, S. R. (2010). The effectiveness and relative importance of choice in the classroom. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102(4), 896-915.
Katz, I. & Assor, A. Educ Psychol Rev (2007) When Choice Motivates and When It Does Not 19: 429.
Brooks, Catherine F.; Young, Stacy L. (2011) Are Choice-Making Opportunities Needed in the Classroom? Using Self-Determination Theory to Consider Student Motivation and Learner Empowerment. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, v23 n1 p48-59
Royer, D. J., Lane, K. L., Cantwell, E. D., & Messenger, M. L. (2017). A Systematic Review of the Evidence Base for Instructional Choice in K–12 Settings. Behavioral Disorders, 42(3), 89–107.
Beymer, P.N. and Thomson, M.M. (2015), Effects of Choice in the Classroom. Support for Learning, 30: 105-120. doi:10.1111/1467-9604.12086