At Demme Learning, we’re all about helping teachers and parents cultivate a love of learning in their students that will endure for a lifetime. When it comes to instilling a deep and enduring will to learn, motivation is key. If you have a student who doesn’t enjoy learning, it’s likely because they don’t feel intrinsically motivated. So, what can you do to help? Keep reading for some helpful insights on how to increase intrinsic motivation in your students!
Where Does Student Motivation Stem From?
To understand which approach(es) you should take to spark student motivation, it’s helpful to consider the psychology behind motivation first. Psychologists have found that our actions are driven by two distinct types of motivation: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic Motivation vs. Extrinsic Motivation
Let’s take a look at some key differences between these two types of motivation as well as some examples of each.
What is Intrinsic Motivation?
Intrinsic motivation refers to being motivated by internal factors. In other words, people who are intrinsically motivated do something because it’s personally rewarding to them and creates positive emotions. They either legitimately enjoy the task, have a genuine interest in learning more about it, or see it as an opportunity for personal growth.
Examples of intrinsic motivation include:
- Reading a book because you enjoy it
- Learning a second language because you want to be bilingual
- Practicing a sport or hobby because you want to get better at it
What is Extrinsic Motivation?
When someone is extrinsically motivated, their actions are influenced by external factors. Instead of an internal drive, they do something either in hopes of gaining some sort of external reward or avoiding a negative outcome.
Examples of extrinsic rewards include:
- Reading so that you get an A on a test
- Learning a second language so you can get a raise at work
- Practicing a sport so you don’t get cut from the team
It’s important to note that these two types of motivation are not mutually exclusive. A person can benefit from both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. We’re all driven by a combination of internal and external factors every day, and neither is necessarily better or worse than the other.
That said, when it comes to student motivation, extrinsic motivators do tend to overshadow intrinsic ones. Students, if they’re motivated at all, often accomplish tasks in school because they want good grades, rewards from teachers/parents, or to avoid consequences. This may lead them to learn, but it does very little to foster a lifelong love of learning. That’s where intrinsic motivation makes a difference.
What is Self Determination Theory?
Self-determination theory (SDT) is a framework that explores human motivation. Its core tenets emphasize the importance of psychological needs like autonomy, competence, and relatedness in fostering intrinsic motivation. Understanding SDT can provide valuable insights into how instructors can create a learning environment that encourages students to be actively engaged, curious, and passionate about their education.
Autonomy
Autonomy refers to the need for self-direction and control over one’s actions. In the classroom, this means giving students agency in their learning. Autonomy can be fostered by providing opportunities for students to make decisions about their assignments, projects, or learning activities. This can include allowing students to choose their own topics, setting their own goals, or determining the format of their presentations. By empowering students to take ownership of their learning, instructors can cultivate a sense of intrinsic desire and reduce feelings of extrinsic pressure.
Competence
The need for competence is the desire to feel effective and capable. In the classroom, this means providing students with challenging yet achievable tasks that allow them to develop their skills and knowledge. Teachers can create a sense of competence by offering appropriate levels of challenge, providing timely feedback, and celebrating students’ successes. By helping students feel confident in their abilities, teachers can foster a positive and growth-oriented mindset that is essential for intrinsic motivation.
Relatedness
The need for relatedness is the desire to feel connected and supported by others. In the classroom, this means creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students feel valued and respected. Teachers can foster relatedness by building positive relationships with students, encouraging collaboration and teamwork, and creating a community within the classroom. By making students feel like they belong and are cared for, teachers can help them develop a strong sense of intrinsic motivation.
When all three needs are met, students are more likely to be intrinsically motivated. They are more engaged in their learning, more likely to take on challenges, and more persistent in the face of setbacks. Conversely, when these needs are not met, students may become disengaged, unmotivated, and even resistant to learning.
SDT provides a valuable framework for understanding and promoting intrinsic motivation in the classroom. By fostering autonomy, competence, and relatedness, teachers can create a learning environment that is engaging, supportive, and conducive to lifelong learning. By nurturing students’ intrinsic motivation, teachers can help them develop the tools and attitudes they need to succeed both academically and in life
How to Increase Intrinsic Motivation in Students of All Ages
Of course, you want your students to WANT to learn, but that doesn’t always come naturally (and that’s normal). However, while not every student will love learning about every topic you teach, there are ways that you can help instill an internal desire to learn. Here are five of our top tips for how to increase intrinsic motivation in your students.
1) Incorporate Their Interests
As we mentioned above, when a student is genuinely interested in a topic that they’re learning about, they’ll be more intrinsically motivated to engage in the lesson. Not every subject will be of interest to every student, but incorporating your student’s passions into your lessons can get them on board even if they don’t love the subject itself.
For example, if you have a student who loves skateboarding and you’re teaching about Newton’s laws of motion in science class, have them illustrate the concepts using a skateboard. Or, if you’re teaching them how to use sensory details in language arts, ask them to write a paragraph that describes what skateboarding is like for someone who never experienced it.
With a little bit of forethought and creativity, you can do this for every student and subject (just maybe not every lesson).
2) Give Them a Voice and a Choice
Students love to feel heard and have choices in school. It gives them a sense of ownership of their learning and makes them feel like active, respected participants in the education process. For that reason, we encourage you to provide opportunities for choice as often as possible in your lessons.
We also recommend allowing your students to share their ideas, thoughts, experiences, and feedback frequently as well. This fosters autonomy and shows that they are valued, which in turn will increase students’ intrinsic motivation to learn.
3) Show the Relevance of What You’re Teaching
Do you enjoy completing meaningless tasks? How about taking the time to learn something you’ll never need to know? Of course not! No one is motivated when an endeavor lacks purpose, including your students. That’s why it’s crucial to communicate relevance to your students and make connections to their lives.
So, be sure to apply lesson material to real-world situations and explain how a concept or skill will serve them in the future. Knowing the “why” behind their work will increase students’ desire—or at least willingness—to learn.
4) Foster a Growth Mindset
Many students lose motivation when they don’t think they’re good at something. For example, if math doesn’t come easily to Amanda, she might write herself off as “not a math person” and develop feelings of disdain for the subject. This is an example of a fixed mindset, which is when people assume that abilities are innate instead of gradually developed.
To combat this thought process, you’ll want to foster a growth mindset in your students where they believe that with time and practice, they can improve their skills. No one gets better at anything without effort and determination (even those who do have natural talents). Knowing that they’re capable and competent will help intrinsically motivate your students to continue working towards success.
5) Build Their Confidence
While praise is technically an extrinsic motivator, a little praise can go a long way to instill a sense of pride in a student—and pride is one of the best intrinsic rewards. This is especially true when students who have struggled with a skill or concept show improvement over time.
Acknowledge your students’ small victories and celebrate how far they’ve come so they learn to celebrate themselves. Saying things like, “Wow, way to keep trying! You’ve grown so much in the past few days! I’m proud of you. You should be proud of yourself, too,” will have a big impact on their confidence and motivation to persist when facing their next learning challenge.
Motivating students to learn is no simple task. We hope these five tips for how to increase intrinsic motivation are helpful as you consider what factors drive your students.
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