Conceptions of learning chosen by pedagogy and physical education students

Abstract

In this paper, the results of study, which aimed at investigating students’ opinion on learning, are discussed. The study involved pedagogy students of the first year at the Angelus Silesius State Vocational College (SVC), physical education students of the first year at the Pawel Wolodkowicz College in Plock (PWC), and pedagogy students of the first year at branch of SVC in Wyszkow. COLI inventory with six categories of the conceptions of learning was used. This questionnaire was designed by Saljo (1979 a, b) and Marton, Dall’Alba and Beaty (1993). Analysis of the obtained data indicated that COLI inventory proved to be very useful tool in the recognition of conceptions of learning chosen by the examined students. Conception category C, describing learning as information reproduction, achieved the highest score in the group of the examined students. More detailed analysis showed that students of both sexes use qualitatively different categories of the conceptions of learning. Analysis of the obtained results indicated that in the group of female students learning was perceived as understanding (conceptions category D) while male students connected learning with information assimilation (conceptions category C).