Thoughts of an Anonymous Beginning Agriculture Teacher

1
Thoughts of an Anonymous Beginning Agriculture
Teacher

• In todays educational system, the most
  challenging aspect seems to be motivating
  students to desire learning. . . . The second
  most difficult obstacle, in my opinion, is
  discipline management. . . . Strong yet fair
  rules and consequences are a must. Discipline
  must start on day one. And last, but not least,
  is the challenge of teaching the increasing
  number of culturally diverse students.

2
Developing and Maintaining Student Interest
3
Inherent to ones Interest for learning is ones
Motivation for learning.
4
Motivation

• A mood or desire that makes a person do
  something rather than not
• The reason(s) for doing anything

5
What do you think motivates students to do their
very best?

• 1)
• 2)
• 3)
• 4)
• 5)

6
So, people are subject to different types of
motivation depending on the situation, the
circumstances, and the individuals involved.
7
Types of motivation can be classified as . . .

• Extrinsic originating from external
  (outside) forces
• Intrinsic originating from internal (inside)
  forces

8
Frequently, extrinsic motivators (forces) include
. . .

• Rewards
• Punishments

9
Extrinsic Motivation

• Extrinsic motivators are not necessarily bad
  depending on how they are used or misused
• But their effect tends to diminish over time and
  with the frequency of use

10
Teacher behaviors that can help to extrinsically
motivate students. . . (Adapted from W.
Huitt, 2001)

• Provide clear expectations
• Give corrective feedback
• Make rewards available
• Provide valuable rewards

11
Intrinsic Motivation

• Originates from within the individual
• It is a felt need

12
Intrinsic Motivation

• I do this because it is what I want to do.
• Not because it is what you want me to do

13
Intrinsic Motivation . . .

• Has much greater potential for creating sustained
  (lasting) behaviors than does extrinsic
  motivation
• It is the essence of Delayed Gratification the
  ability to defer immediate pleasure or reward for
  long term gain or accomplishment

14
Teacher behaviors that can help students to
become intrinsically motivated. . .
(Adapted from W. Huitt, 2001)

• Explain or show why learning a particular content
  or skill is important
• Create and maintain a climate of curiosity
• Provide a variety of activities and sensory
  stimulations
• Provide games and simulations
• Set goals for learning

15
Teacher behaviors that can help students to
become intrinsically motivated
(Adapted from W. Huitt, 2001)

• Relate learning to student needs
• Help students plan ahead and look toward the
  future

16
Needs

• Individuals have unfelt needs as well.
• This may be especially true for adolescents.

17
Unfelt Needs

• So, it is also very important
• that teachers help students to understand what
  their unfelt needs may be, for example . . .

• The need to prepare for a future career or job
• The need to obey rules and to follow procedures
• The need to avoid or to reduce risky behaviors
  (health or life threatening)
• The need to save money

18
Abraham Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
19
(No Transcript)
20
If experience is the best teacher, mine has been
the following

• If you will try to reach students through the
  Affective domain, that is, make a consistent and
  honest attempt to understand and appreciate their
  values, attitudes, interests, and beliefs
• Eventually, most students will allow you to
  assist them in the Cognitive domain, that is,
  help them to acquire valuable knowledge, skills,
  and abilities

21
Some Important Principles of Learning from the
Students Perspective (Dodd, 1995)

• Learning is personal and idiosyncratic, e.g.,
  there are many ways to understand and to
  misunderstand
  
• Every student behavior (or misbehavior) is a way
  of communicating
• Assumptions on the part of the teacher are
  sometimes wrong

22
(No Transcript)