David Méndez-Alonso

Cooperative learning has been shown to be a highly beneficial teaching methodology for student learning and motivation. It also has huge benefits for teaching, although there is still a widespread lack of knowledge on how to implement this highly structured series of techniques. In this study, teacher motivation was tested under the 3 × 2 achievement goal model to see how it relates to the application of CL in the classroom using sequential generalized estimating equation models. This theoretical model had not previously been applied to teacher motivation, and these teachers, from different educational stages and different schools, had received specific training in CL and had been monitored for one year. The results showed a high orientation towards self–approach goals, with the influence of having received such training, having more experience in applying CL and it being facilitated at the primary education stage. The implications of these results are discussed, as various facilitating factors for the use of CL in the classroom can be found.

Cooperative learning (CL) is a methodological approach consisting of a series of techniques based on group work, where each member works together within the team to achieve a common goal. There is widespread evidence of its benefits for both students and teachers and it has been used successfully at various educational levels, from early childhood education to university studies. However, it is still used at a low percentage; therefore, it is of great interest to study the factors that favour its implementation by teachers. This study aims to study motivation, based on the theory of self-determination, and its relationship with the use of CL in the classroom. A sample of 279 teachers (122 male and 157 female) who had previously received specific training in the use and application of CL was used. The results show a positive relationship between intrinsic regulation towards school tasks and the application of CL in the classroom (p = 0.029). These results have important implications for understanding the factors that lead teachers to maintain CL and how this methodology also improves their teaching.

Active pedagogies and specifically cooperative learning have been described as effective tools for inclusion and educational equity, a key concept in objective 4 within the Sustainable Development Goals. The aim of this study was to test the temporal stability of a cooperative learning (CL) over two academic years and to analyse its effects on achievement in mathematics. The sample consisted of 6456 students enrolled in school in Spain, aged between 10 and 15 years. The results showed some consistency in the use of this methodology during two school years. Mathematics scores correlated positively with all elements of CL in each of the separate school years. However, logistic regression data showed a significant drop in mathematics. In contrast, during the same period, four of the five elements of CL correlated positively with the results.

Psychological variables, such as perceived motivational climate, goal orientation, self-determined motivation, and personality, have an influence on sports success performance. This study aimed to examine the relationships among a set of psychological variables (perceived motivational climate, goal orientation, self-determined motivation, and personality) in male and female footballers. Participants were 167 footballers (106 male, 61 female), aged 12 to 26, competing with clubs in the Spanish Football League. They all took four questionnaires aimed at evaluating motivational climate, goal orientations, self-determined motivation, and personality. The analyses of correlation and regression showed statistically significant relations among the variables. Neuroticism and psychoticism negatively relate to mastery motivational climate, the best predictor of self-determined motivation. It was concluded that contextual variables carry more weight in predicting goal orientations and self-determined motivation among participant footballers.

Education and gender equity are of high priority in the list of objectives when looking to achieve sustainable development; however, various studies have analysed that these objectives are far from being reached. The goal of this paper was to investigate the influence that cooperative learning has on academic performance and on the gender gap in the subject of Maths. A total of 14,122 students between the ages of 10 and 19 took part in the study. The hypothesis posed was that gender differences observed in Maths would significantly be reduced in those classrooms in which cooperative learning had a higher degree of implementation. In the results, the analysis of the regression of means and gradients showed that gender predicts Maths results in a positive manner (estimated beta = 0.12, p < 0.01) and interacts with cooperative learning by taking a negative value (−0.26) and with an associated critical value less than 0.05. In other words, the relation between cooperative learning and Math grades is significantly higher in males than in females. However, females achieve better marks, which generates a certain relation of equity. These results prove that cooperative learning can reduce gender differences in the learning of Maths.

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a developmental disorder affecting motor coordination skills, that frequently persists into adolescence and adulthood. Despite this, very few instruments exist to identify DCD in this population, and none of them are available for Spanish young adults. The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt and preliminarily validate the Adolescents and Adults Coordination Questionnaire (AAC-Q) into European Spanish. The AAC-Q was translated and adapted following international recommendations, including: (a) two independent forward translations; (b) synthesis and reconciliation; (c) expert committee review; and (d) a comprehensibility test. In addition, the internal consistency and homogeneity were examined using a sample of 100 Spanish higher education students. Cultural equivalence and idiomatic differences were addressed to produce the AAC-Q-ES. Findings show that the AAC-Q-ES is a cross-culturally adapted instrument with good preliminary reliability indicators in Spanish young adults (Cronbach’s α = 0.74; corrected item-total correlations = 0.217–0.504).

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychological variables of runners of ultra-trail mountain races and their association with athletic performance and success. The sample was made up of 356 mountain runners, 86.7% men and 13.2% women, with a mean age of 42.7 years and 5.7 years of experience. Using pre- and post-race questionnaires, data were collected regarding mental toughness, resilience, and passion. The performance of each runner in the race was also recorded. The results showed very high values in the psychological variables analyzed compared with other sports disciplines. Completion of the race (not withdrawing) and the elite quality of the runners were presented as the most relevant indicators in the processes of resilience, mental toughness, and obsessive passion. Differences were noted between the pre- and post-race results, suggesting that the competition itself is a means of training those psychological factors that are essential to this sports discipline. It can be concluded that psychological factors are decisive to athletic performance and race completion in mountain ultra-marathon races.

El objeto de este estudio fue evaluar la percepción de los maestros de Educación Física (EF) del Principado de Asturias sobre el proceso de incorporación de las competencias básicas (CCBB) en el currículo del área. Un total de 151 maestros de EF (46,6% de la población) contestaron a un cuestionario ad hoc compuesto por 12 ítems mediante una escala Likert de 6 puntos. Los resultados mostraron una plena incorporación de las CCBB a las programaciones, sin embargo, el nivel de desarrollo en la práctica resulta ser más bajo. Ser mujer, joven y contar con una elevada formación específica emergieron como factores diferenciales del trabajo competencial. Las competencias de carácter transversal fueron valoradas de mayor relevancia que las relacionadas con determinadas áreas curriculares. Se discute la profundidad del cambio emprendido por los docentes y el supuestamente requerido. Finalmente, se abordan sus implicaciones de cara al tipo de formación específica. PALABRAS CLAVE Competencias básicas, educación física, Educación Primaria, programación docente.   ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess Primary Education Physical Education (PE) teachers’ perspectives of the process of incorporating the Basic Competences (BBCC) into the curriculum of the Principality of Asturias. A total of 151 PE teachers (46.6% of the whole population) answered an ad hoc questionnaire of 12 items using a 6-point Likert scale. The results showed a full incorporation of the BBCC in the PE program. However, the degree of development in practice turned out to be lower. Being female, young, and having a high-level and specific training emerged as differentiating factors. Cross-cutting skills were valued more than those related to the specific curricular areas. The depth of change undertaken by the teachers compared to the required changed are discussed. Finally, implications to address specific training are also introduced. KEY WORDS Basic Competences, Physical Education, Primary Education, teaching program.