Teachers can influence learning by finding motivating factors and using those to help students learn. Some motivating factors are social, helping students learn more to look good. Another is mastery. Some learners are perfectionists. They want to learn concepts to the greatest amount they can. As a teacher you can find this motivation and use it to help the learner want to learn.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Motivation
Learning is still the gaining of knowledge from different sources and experiences but it can be influenced by many things. In my life my goal for a long time has been to be smarter than my brothers. This is a motivating factor for me. As I try to be smarter than them I go about it different ways. One way is that I try to find out what they know and acquire that knowledge and a little bit more. One other way is I am always reading books and experimenting with my knowledge to prove things true or false.
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Why do you want to be smarter than your brothers?!!!! A little friendly competition-- or something more? Do you learn things just for your own sake? I agree with what you said about finding out what motivates your own students (my 7th period class: Dum Dum suckers. Sheesh, they're tiny! The suckers, not the kids). As with every facet of teaching, do what works for them. So, can you solve a Rubic's Cube? Can your brothers?
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteI like the idea you shared about finding the individual student motivation and then using it to help a student learn. I think this is a crucial role that teachers can play in the learning process. Learning is individual and very personal. I also think finding out what is limiting the learning- why they won't engage or participate is as important as knowing what motivates them. Thanks for the thoughts.
I understand the motivation to out-know your siblings. I am the caboose in the family and there is 11 years difference between me and the next one. I feel that my desire to out-know my brothers and sisters does not stem from ego-driven operations but to have the ability to impress being the youngest. That's not bad is it?
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