Motivação e desempenho num curso de Simulação Empresarial

 

Margarida M. Pinheiro*, Cláudia S. Sarrico** e Rui A. Santiago***

*Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

**Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Portugal

***Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

 

Resumo

No sentido de melhorar o desempenho dos graduados no mercado de trabalho, foi desenvolvido, segundo uma metodologia tipo PBL, um curso de Simulação Empresarial num curso de contabilidade. O foco deste trabalho centra-se na análise de qual o poder dos ambientes de aprendizagem inspirados em metodologias PBL nas motivações dos estudantes, e no entendimento de até que ponto a motivação influencia o seu desempenho. A investigação sugere que a presença de problemas profissionais reais envolvendo diferentes áreas de trabalho, a natureza inovadora da metodologia e as características pragmáticas da mesma, se constituem como elementos motivadores para os estudantes. Paralelamente, os mecanismos de feedback do trabalho realizado em conjunto com a oportunidade de reformulação dos erros cometidos assumem particular importância no entusiasmo e estímulo do estudante. O efeito que a crescente motivação tem sobre as aprendizagens e, em última análise, sobre os resultados dos alunos, é um paradigma central do modelo.

Palavras-chave: Ensino superior; PBL; Motivação; Desempenho

 

Motivation and performance in a business simulation course

Abstract

In order to enhance graduates’ performance in the labour market a one semester Business Simulation course was designed and implemented. The course participants are students of the last semester in a PBL-type undergraduate Portuguese Accounting program. This work focuses on the power of learning environments, namely the ones inspired by PBL, to influence students’ motivations; and asks to what extent motivation contributes to differences in performance. Interpreting the results of this case study, it can be seen that the use of real-world problems encompassing different subject areas in conjunction with augmented teaching methods motivates students in both an intrinsic and extrinsic way. Using feedback together with the opportunity to improve submitted work is shown to have a huge importance on the learners’ enthusiasm and stimulation. The effect that increased motivation has on students’ and graduates’ learning and ultimately course grades is a central tenet in the teaching and evaluation model.

Keywords: Higher education; PBL; Performance; Motivation

 

Motivation et performance dans un cours de simulation d’Entreprise

Résumé

Pour améliorer l’accomplissement des gradués dans le marché de travail, on a développé un cours de Simulation d’Enterprise, basé sur une méthodologie du type PBL. Ce travail se centre dans l’analyse sur le pouvoir des environnements d’apprentissage basés dans les méthodologies PBL sur les motivations des étudiants, et l’influence de la motivation sur l’accomplissement de ceux-là. L’investigation nous montre que la présence de problèmes professionnels réels enveloppant de différents domaines de travail, et la nature innovatrice de la méthodologie et ses caractéristiques pragmatiques, forment des éléments motivateurs pour les étudiants. En même temps, les mécanismes de feedback du travail réalisé et la possibilité de reformulation des erreurs commises assument une particulière importance pour l’enthousiasme et la stimulation de l’étudiant. L’effet que la croissante motivation a sur les apprentissages et sur les résultats dés étudiants c’est un paradigme central du modèle.

Mots-clé: Enseignement supérieur; PBL; Motivation; Performance

 

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Recebido em Dezembro/2009

Aceite para publicação em Outubro/2010