Promoting student academic engagement and motivation

Jan Stewart

Manager, Student Learning Support Service

Keynote from ANZSSA conference December 2011

Prof Andrew Martin -Uni of Sydney.

Psych and educational researcher in achievement motivation.

“ strong get stronger and weak get weaker “

Applies particularly to literacy & academic education

Basis of Martin’s research

Cumulated data from Year 12 /13 students in Australian schools

Cross referencing a number of variables for gender /age /etc

Applied to university and college level as well

Developing strategies and tools to help analyse and measure motivation and engagement

Personal potential network

Relationships

Motivation and engagement [students energy thoughts and behaviours that show drive to learn, and work effectively ]

Academic buoyancy [ability to deal with setbacks and pressures]

Adaptability

Personal bests

Motivation and engagement

Martin’s – Motivation & Engagement wheel

Add the 5 Cs …..

“Coordination”

“Composure”

Five “Cs” –target the wheel!

Confidence –increasing self belief

Co-ordination – strategies for getting better

Commitment – improving persistence

Composure – strategies to manage anxiety (link to control )

Control – increasing control by effort /strategy/ attitude

Your view ?....

Motivation and engagement wheel – how does it apply in your area?

What do we do already around the 5 Cs is there more we can do?........

Some strategies…..

Increasing control in areas you can control – effort /strategy/attitude

Adaptability – adjusting thinking /behaviour and emotions at critical junctions such as transition to uni /new course or whatever

Personal bests- your own journey cf with athlete

Final analogy ….

Relationship between singer, the song and the singing

Connective instruction –critical components

Singer – interpersonal rel of student to teacher

Song –Substantive rel of student and message

Singing –relationship of student and teaching

Your views ….

Any thoughts here that might enhance the VUW student experience?

Any other comments ?....