Motivating Students to Want to Learn

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Motivating Students to Want to Learn

• You can drag a horse to water.

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So what about motivation?

• What is it?
• How does it manifest itself?
• What factors affect motivation?
• Difference between constructive and restrictive
• So how do I motivate??

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What Is Motivation?

• It is the desire to want to do something it is
  CHOICE

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Some thoughts...

• We make assumptions
• They cant learn
• They dont want to learn
• Theyll never learn
• We make mistakes
• Lack of attention is not lack of motivation

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Principles of Motivation

• We are motivated differently at different times.
• We are motivated by different factors.
• We are not always motivated.
• Each of us is motivated differently.

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Factors affecting motivation

• Physical
• Social
• Intake
• Personal
• Past experience

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Constructive vs. Restrictive

• I want to becauseI enjoy I like
• I like the reward , , privilege, etc
• I like to be accountable, confident, take
  initiative

• I have to or else
• Fear or threats that are physical, psychological
• Lack of initiative, blames another, lack of
  accountability.

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Basic Human Motivators

• Personal Gain
• Prestige
• Pleasure
• Security
• Convenience
• Avoidance of punishment

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Motivators

• Teacher behaviors
• Wait time
• Answers vs. understanding
• Use of
• Declaratives
• Reflective statements
• Invitations to elaborate
• silence

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Make the benefits of trying more desirable than
the benefits of not trying

• 1. Make sure that assigned tasks are realistic so
  that all students can complete them if they
  really try.
• Small groups
• Different assignments
• Different assessments
• Self-monitoring

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• 2. Focus students attention on their own
  progress, not on others
• Base rewards on improvement
• Use individual improvement charts
• Use short-term goals

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• 3. Reward effort apart from outcome
• Use a separate system of grades or rewards
• Have students reflect on their effort
• Help them learn from their mistakes
• Praise diligence apart from brilliance

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• 4. Give every student opportunities to
  demonstrate competence in class
• Set time aside for demonstration in non-academic
  areas
• Give everyone a job

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• Allow students to set goals
• Make sure they are realistic and challenging
• Record the goals and track their progress
• Give each student a picture of his/her status

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REMEMBER MADNESS IS DEFINED AS DOING THINGS SAME
WAY OVER AND OVER AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENT
OUTCOME EACH TIME.