Motivating Students to Want to Learn

You can drag a horse to water….

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??

What Is Motivation?

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

Some thoughts...

• We make assumptions– They can’t learn

– They don’t want to learn

– They’ll never learn

• We make mistakes– Lack of attention is not

lack of motivation

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.

Factors affecting motivation

• Physical• Social• Intake• Personal• Past experience

Constructive vs. Restrictive

• “I want to because…I 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.

Basic Human Motivators

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

punishment

Motivators

• Teacher behaviors– Wait time

– Answers vs. understanding

– Use of :• Declaratives

• Reflective statements

• Invitations to elaborate

• silence

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

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

• 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

• 4. Give every student opportunities to demonstrate competence in class– Set time aside for demonstration in non-

academic areas– Give everyone a job

• 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”

REMEMBER: MADNESS IS DEFINED AS DOING

THINGS SAME WAY OVER AND OVER AND

EXPECTING A DIFFERENT OUTCOME EACH TIME.