Usage and Application of Motivation

Motivation has several basic principles that are applicable to learning.

1. The environment may be used to focus the student’s attention on the information that needs to be learned

Instructors who create a warm and inviting environment will promote favorable attitudes towards learning. Visual aids, booklets, and posters capture student’s attention and curiosity which motivates them to learn.

2. Provide incentives to motivate students to learn

Incentives may include privileges, prizes, or praise from the instructor. It is the instructor’s responsibility to determine the incentive that will motivate the student to learn. In a general sense, self-motivation without rewards is not sufficient. It is essential that students find satisfaction and gratification from learning.

3. Internal motivation is longer lasting than external motivation

4. Learning is most effective when and if the student is ready to learn

Some students must be given extra time to determine their readiness to learn. It is the instructor’s role to encourage the student to develop the readiness. If the subject must be learned immediately, the instructor should supervise the learning process and encourage learning through repetition and supervision.

5. Motivation is enhanced by the presentation and organization of the instructional material (Weller, 2005)

Motivational Strategies

• Promote a positive environment
• Remove components of learning that may lead to failure
• Plan activities that can be achieved and will increase self-esteem
• Examine the need for change in the learning style and activities
• Provide consistent feedback (Weller, 2005)
• Click here to learn more motivational strategies

References

Weller, M. (2005). General principals of motivation. Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved from

      http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/motivate.htm