Week 9 - Motivation

What is learning?

Learning is highly motivated by motivation. A huge part of learning is determined by why people want to learn. The "why" might be motivated by wanting to do well and learn the most a student can, or it may be motivated by wanting to appear smart, cool, accepted, etc.

How can learning be best effectuated by the teacher?

I really liked the readings this week, not only because they made much more sense than last week's but because they really made me think about students asking for help. I had never really thought about students asking for help as related to motivation. In my math classes I rarely sit down. I move around my room constantly during individual work time. I do this because 1) I have always felt like it lowers the intimidation barriers, allowing more students to ask questions, and 2) gives me an opportunity to nonchalantly check on students who would otherwise not volunteer their work.

I had never put this in a motivation context, however. In relation to what we read this week, I am helping the students who are socially motivated. They are the ones who flail there arms and yell across the room, "Mrs. Binggeli you're ignoring me. I need help." I am also helping the achievement-motivated students by giving them a casual and non-intimidating way to quickly raise their hand as I walk past them. They quietly say, "Mrs. Binggeli, can you check this one," bringing very little attention to themselves, yet getting the help they need.