What can instructors do to increase students motivation to learn?Help students value learning Connect material to their interestsĬommunicate relevance of and connections between subjects
The Value of Intrinsic Motivation(Also from Drive)Autonom圜ontrol over task, time, technique, team improves performanceMasteryPursuit of mastery most likely to lead to engagementPurposePurpose goals lead to higher levels of individual satisfaction and sense of well-beingMotivation & LearningCase Example
The Trouble with Extrinsic Motivation According to Pink in Drive, rewards (and punishments) Extinguish intrinsic motivationDiminish performanceCrush creativit圜rowd out good behaviorEncourage cheating, shortcuts, and unethical behaviorCan become addictive Can foster short term thinking Instrumental ValueRewards for achieving goals/punishments for failing to achieve goalsThe Trouble with Extrinsic Motivation Daniel Pink, The Surprising Science of Motivation, TED Talk, July 2009
What is Motivation?The degree to which someone is invested in the process or outcome of an activityMotivation is primarily influenced by individual goalsIndividual goals have both internal (natural) and social (nurture) sourcesNature and nurture combine to affect how individuals perceive their goals What affects the perception of learning goals?Values (what matters)Įxpectancies (what we think will happen)What type of values affect learning goals?Sources of Intrinsic (Internal) Motivation:Īttainment ValueTask/job/activity well doneInherent ValueThe task/job/activity on its ownWhat type of values affect learning goals?Source of Extrinsic (External) Motivation: Redesign the course to incorporate student interests and ideas into the course content and assignments.Ĭase Example QuestionsWhat motivation challenges do you have as a teacher that are not addressed by the case example? The college is considering eliminating this requirement which would likely lead to a reduction in the number of faculty in the Philosophy department.Case Example QuestionsWhat are the motivation challenges in the case example?Ĭase Example QuestionsIf you were Professor Skinner, which strategy would you adopt to increase student motivation:Rethink the grading policy so that more students are likely to achieve the grade they desire.Assess what students know about the course content at the beginning of the semester and adjust the content so that it is neither too easy or too difficult.Suggest that the course be combined with the section for majors in order to improve student interest and the grade distribution. Students frequently complain about the course to the administration. The difficulty of the material also leads to a high drop, withdraw, and failure rate. The students in this class typically are not interested in philosophy and only take the course because it is a graduation requirement. Motivation & LearningChristopher Price, Ph.D.Director, Center for Excellence in Learning & Teaching, The College at & LearningCase ExampleĬase ExampleAfter years of avoiding it, Professor Skinner was scheduled to teach the introductory course in philosophy for non-majors.