Original scientific paper

Students’ Attitudes Towards Teaching Methods at Higher Education Institutions Aiming to Develop Entrepreneurial Competences

Vesna Cigan orcid.org/0000-0003-1811-7701 ; Visoka škola Nikola Šubić Zrinski, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Helena Šlogar ; Visoka poslovna škola Libertas, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a survey of students’ attitudes towards the three selected teaching methods in teaching Management and English language at higher education institutions in Croatia. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 857 participants. Theaim of this study was to show whether there is a correlation between students› attitudes towards theselected teaching methods and indicators of student motivation to learn, and which of the proposed methods as to the students’ preferences proved particularly important. The introductory part of the paper discusses the importance of student motivation and his active participation in the teaching process. Thereafter, modern teaching methods are briefly outlined (e.g. the investigative case-based learning approach). They represent a departure from teaching „ex-cathedra“ so called teaching and lecturing, and knowledge reproduction, and focus on active student participation in the teaching process and independent application of knowledge. In the interactive classroom a teacher is a facilitator who manages teaching process, encourages students and fosters the development of students’ knowledge and skills. The teaching process being now student cantered and based on the needs analysis of both students and a wider social community fosters the development of communication skills and entrepreneurial competencies. The research assumption in this paper is that the teaching process in which students’ preferences in respect of the researched, active teaching methods have been taken account of has a stimulatory effect on students. Discussion and conclusion present survey results aiming to point to the specific student’s needs in respect of methods in teaching Management and English language at higher education institutions. Active teaching methods enable and prepare students for a lifelong learning as a basis for increasing competitiveness in the market and entrepreneurial potential in general.

Keywords

students’ attitudes; interactive teaching; active teaching methods; extrinsic and intrinsic motivation

Hrčak ID:

130188

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/130188

Publication date:

1.6.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 3.394 *