Motivation is a critical factor in the learning process. Unmotivated students will simply not learn. They may pretend to learn, and they may be able to pass a test after pretending to learn, although they probably would not pass the same text six months later without taking the time to pretend to learn the material again. No educationalist has ever been able to get around this simple fact and we ignore it at our peril.
This unit is about the various theories about motivation as well as the types of motivation students (and you) may have.
Learning Activities
As you read about motivation in the presentation below, watch the video on Theory X and Theory Y, and read a little about X and Y, consider a few things:
1. How does this information explain (or fail to explain) times in your life when you were motivated? Not motivated?
2. What kinds of motivation do you have for learning Educational Psychology?
3. How would you explain the motivation of the children in the Hole in the Wall experiment?
4. What kinds of things can you do as a teacher/boss/trainer to encourage motivation (keeping in mind that you cannot make someone feel motivation)?
Table of Contents
Audio Files for This Page
Download the mp3s by right-clicking on the links. Play them directly by clicking on the Play button.Introduction and Learning Activities
Motivation Intro.mp3
The Perils and Promises of Praise
The Perils and Promises of Praise.mp3
Introduction
Motivation is a critical factor in the learning process. Unmotivated students will simply not learn. They may pretend to learn, and they may be able to pass a test after pretending to learn, although they probably would not pass the same text six months later without taking the time to pretend to learn the material again. No educationalist has ever been able to get around this simple fact and we ignore it at our peril.This unit is about the various theories about motivation as well as the types of motivation students (and you) may have.
Learning Activities
As you read about motivation in the presentation below, watch the video on Theory X and Theory Y, and read a little about X and Y, consider a few things:1. How does this information explain (or fail to explain) times in your life when you were motivated? Not motivated?
2. What kinds of motivation do you have for learning Educational Psychology?
3. How would you explain the motivation of the children in the Hole in the Wall experiment?
4. What kinds of things can you do as a teacher/boss/trainer to encourage motivation (keeping in mind that you cannot make someone feel motivation)?
Motivation
http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/ob/motivation/mcgregor/
How To Praise Students in a Way That Increases Motivation
Flashcards
http://quizlet.com/1945863/motivation-flash-cards/