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I would like you to take three key messages from this lesson. One, motivation provides energy and direction to our behavior and, thus, is key to learning. Students can work without being motivated in your courses, but they are unlikely to learn in a deep or lasting way.
Two, to encourage intrinsic motivation in our students, instructors need to design learning environments that promote autonomy, competence, and belongingness. We can design for motivation in our course structure, our course policies, our assignments, our assessments, our feedback, and our grading.
Three, goal setting works by focusing attention, mobilizing efforts, prolonging persistence, and fostering new learning, which are all critical components to the work of the classroom. Intentionally setting goals with our students can engender powerful changes to behavior. What practices will you take into your next course in order to engender student motivation? Best of luck.
- Motivation provides energy and direction to our behaviour, and thus is key to learning. Students can work without being motivated in your courses, but they are unlikely to learn in a deep or lasting way.
- To encourage intrinsic motivation in their students, instructors need to design learning environments that promote autonomy, competence, and belongingness. We can design for motivation in course structure, course policies, assignments, assessment, feedback, and grading.
- Goal setting works by focusing attention, mobilising efforts, prolonging persistence, and fostering new learning—which are all critical components to the work of the classroom. Intentionally setting goals with our students can engender powerful changes to behavior.
Thank you for taking this ‘Applying the Science of Motivation to Teaching’ course which has been developed with Sarah Rose Cavanagh. We hope you have enjoyed it. Remember to mark all the lessons as ‘Mark Complete’ to earn your Course Completion Badge.
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Discussions
What practices will you take into your next course in order to engender student motivation?
Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below.