Engage students in goal setting, tracking, celebrating growth and mastery.

This answer is based on personal experience, mainly. I motivate my students by reminding them of the reasons and ideas they had when they decided to study psychology. Most of them have forgotten these conceptions they had, and they get very excited when being reminded of them. I then give them the opportunity to work on something related with their original wishes and ideas, which motivates them for the whole semester doing talks and texts on their personal interests.

interestingly, no two students have the same starting point ideas for their studies, so our seminar subjects are quite versatile.

best,

dieter

Engage students in goal setting, tracking, celebrating growth and mastery.

My way of motivating students is

1. inculcating confidence in the students

2. introducing them to sucessful individuals in the same field

3. telling them inspirational stories

4. induce feeling of satisfactory learning through their outcome of verbal, practical and written evaluations

To motivate a student, the best way is to understand the psychology of that student. As different types of students need different types of psycho-treatment in order to increase the motivation level of the students, the treatment will vary between students.

However, in most of the cases, awards and appraisal are proved to be potent motivating agents.

Dear Ayman,

Students are frequently motivated, but their interests are not always connected to contents, or class environment. Have a sense of what they expect of the class first, then try to connect your teaching with the expectancies, and get them involved in exploring new and interesting information to solve their doubts. That always work with my students. 

Regards

A teacher who is enthusiastic and has spark can motivate the students.  Great deal of positive approach,' can do' spirit of the teacher, leading by example are are factors that can contribute in motivation of students.

It is quite a different approach teaching in undergraduate level. To motivate students is like talking to yourself as a teen. As an adult  encourage them to learn independently is quite successful by showing them that they have to use their skills and  be able to effectively engage in class. Providing students with accountability is an important element of being a teacher. Without the idea of a deadline and a grade, many students would never have the self-motivation that is required to successfully learn a language or culture inside the classroom. Be clear with your students when you tell them your expectations. Make sure they know the deadline for a project’s completion and what standards you will use to assess that project. You may also consider contracting grades with your students who are at more advanced levels. When you contract grades, your students sign a contract which outlines the requirements to receive an a and a b. Do not give options for lower grades. The student selects which grade he or she will receive in the class and then must complete those requirements satisfactorily. From the start of class, your students know what they need to accomplish, and they know that their success is completely dependent upon themselves. This will get them to be self motivated learners and help them engage themselves in the learning process...

The key and fundamental principle is to develop and implement a holistic student-centered approach at all levels and domains in educational processes and procedures. Students are certainly a major stakeholder and partner in higher education, and this has to be practically applied and be demonstrated at institutional, departmental and course levels. It is absolutely necessary to shift the emphasis from instructor-centered (as demonstrated by the credit hour systems) to student centered approach (with measurable learning outcomes, skills and competencies), which in Europe is currently being achieved with the ECTS, instead of the credit hours, system.

This is a much more complicated question than one might think. There are many theories on student motivation. I would recommend familiarizing yourself with Achievment Goal Theory, Expectancy-Value Theory, and Self-Determination Theory to get a sense of how contemporary scholars think and conceptualize student motivation. 

In general, though, there is no "best" way. Sometimes students need to take on more of a performance orientation and are thus motivated by extrinsic things like good grades so they can get into grad school. Other times a mastery orientation enables students to look inward and not worry so much about others' performance. Praise can indeed lead to maladaptive attitudes, but it depends on what you're praising. If you praise a students hard work and self-regulation, then you are encouraging adaptive ways of approaching work. This wouldn't be the case if you simply said "good job!" to a student, or simply called them "smart." (See Carol Dweck's work on mindsets)

I have found that the best motivator for my students is remaining current with trends (technology, current events, music, fashion), being innovative, engaging, and provide opportunities for students to mentor others. I am always aware that students learn differently so I am always implementing activities and development projects that incorporates multiple learning disciplines.

Yes Stephen, spot on. There are many different factors related to student motivaton.

Thank you

Constructivist approach to teaching can help motivate students. Research indicates that students learn better when given the opportunity to be actively involved in learning process. Experiential learning approach and a combination of learning approaches (blended learning) can also stimulate students to be more studious. Teachers giving the impression that they are willing to co-learn with their students can also motivate students to be more actively engaged in learning process. 

First of all there is need to be aware of the difference between motivation as a long term student internal issue and incentives that are short term student external factors. 

The motivation is influenced by the student perception on how the whole study environment (not only the "technical" transfer of knowledge-body but also the social environment, the human interaction and so on) take him closer to his life goals. This is a complex process and it must be tailored for each student apart.

Incentives - like expressing appreciation for a well done job, paper, exam etc. as well as tuition and research grants, visiting sites of interest, positive spirit of discussion, amenities on site - all these can foster the development of the student motivation yet incentives are an indirect factor that may influence the motivation.   

Give students a voice in the learning process. Have them contribute into what they learn, how they learn, and when to learn it. Listening and acting on student voice  improves teacher-student relationship as well as promoting a community of learners. 

Thank you for these great comments and insights from colleagues. However, after more than two decades of teaching mathematics in the UAE and Canada, I now realize that despite teachers' best efforts, techniques and incentives, students may or may not be motivated to learn. At least in mathematics that I know about, motivation is a matter of "mindset", for both teachers and students: Students who believe mathematical ability is fixed and innate, will not work hard to improve their learning and mathematics teachers who believe some students "do not have it" will not invest time and energy helping students who are not doing well. On the other hand, if we can convince our students that success in mathematics is 2% natural ability and 98% effort, they will be motivated to work hard and improve!  

exploring students' interest and provide them with updated topics could be motivating. Topics as pollution, mass media ans so wolud be boring for young generations. Good luck.

The question should rather be...how to motivate "that" or "this" student.  Each student is motivated in different ways.  Whether it's curriculum or motivation, there is no cookie cutter answer.  All the research in the world still won't tell you how to motivate Paul or Sue or Jacob.  The best a teacher can do is explore the best ways to provide opportunities for students to discover within themselves what motivates them.  Provide them with all the raw ingredients for a casserole but let them spice it up to taste. 

Too many books and theorists try to have pre-made idealized frozen dinners, in perfect proportion.  Who looks forward to that?  Provide them with a farmers market and an ample spice rack and watch their imagination and appetite for education go to work.

  Sorry, I'm really hungry now.  I find food analogies encompass many disciplines.

  In other words, the discussion should be on providing opportunities and environments where students discover their own motivation.  Motivation can not be given.  One can not motivate if that motivation is not received by another, therefore opportunity and inspiration could be examples of catalysts for motivation to come to fruition. 

I think the food analogy said it better.:)

Hi There, I am a strong believer of the action learning. I always talk about the current happening in the country or world  and associate them with the topics we are discussing in the class. The movies are one the best source that help me to motivate and made actual learning happens in the class room environment. 

More than praises and rewards which are usually extrinsic, students should be intrinsicallly motivated. So, students should be involved in appropriate activities. The proposal tasks should be meaningful for them in order they gain confidence in their own capacities to learn the subject and enjoy learning it.

well said @Karynne and @Karl 

In terms of the effects of praise, research in educational psychology has been clear for decades: Positive labeling harms children's motivation and performance in the long run. Starting at an early age, children who are constantly praised as "smart" avoid working hard and applying themselves, because they think that "smart kids don't have to study". In addition, if they try hard and still get a bad mark, they will lose the title! Parents and teachers should praise students for their effort and discipline (e.g. you must have worked so hard for that A, good for you!) instead of natural ability (e.g. you must be so smart. I didn't even see you study that much!) For more on the topic, refer to Carol Dweck's work on motivation, in particular her book "Mindset, the New Psychology of Success" (2006). 

Make them believe in their own capacities!

There is evidence for basic motivation needs: relation, competence, autonomy, also known as self-determination theory;

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1747938X12000632

Dear Ayman

Please check my profile (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nikolaos_Pellas) in order to get a first view on what the future will bring to e-learning and especially the candidate platforms (see eg 3D multi-user virtual worlds).

I have 2 papers published in Computers in Human Behavior that you may found them as fundamental for your research. Please see them below:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=-717418043&_sort=r&_st=13&view=c&md5=3c972f35394641854f1bba136065ef42&searchtype=a

With kind regards

NP

Teachers have a lot to do with their students' motivational level. A student may arrive in class with a certain degree of motivation. But the teacher's behavior and teaching style, the structure of the course, the nature of the assignments and informal interactions with students all have a large effect on student motivation. We may have heard the utterance, "my students are so unmotivated!" and the good news is that there's a lot that we can do to change that.

Educational psychology has identified two basic classifications of motivation - intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation arises from a desire to learn a topic due to its inherent interests, for self-fulfillment, enjoyment and to achieve a mastery of the subject. On the other hand, extrinsic motivation is motivation to perform and succeed for the sake of accomplishing a specific result or outcome. Students who are very grade-oriented are extrinsically motivated, whereas students who seem to truly embrace their work and take a genuine interest in it are intrinsically motivated. 

So, here are some advices for you, to motivate your students.

-Give frequent, early, positive feedback that supports students' beliefs that they can do well.

-Ensure opportunities for students' success by assigning tasks that are neither too easy nor too difficult.

-Help students find personal meaning and value in the material.

-Create an atmosphere that is open and positive.

-Help students feel that they are valued members of a learning community.

Mirinda

Have you worked on teaching strategies in primary and secondary school level students or professional students are also incuded?

Listening  and acting  on student voice  on matters that affect their educational  experience will  motivate them to be more involved  in  democratizing the schools 

Diversity is a key for motivating students' learning.  

Dear Ayman ,

please read my articles on  motivation and demotivation shared on reseachgate.

good luck with your research

a.

dear ayman

my articles Instrumental motivation, critical thinking, autonomy and academic achievement of Iranian EFL learners 

and the other one on demotivation can offer some ideas.

To  motivate our students effectively we need some strategies:

· Become a role model for student interest. Deliver your presentations with energy and enthusiasm.  As a display of your motivation, your passion motivates your students. Make the course personal, showing why you are interested in the material.

· Get to know your students. You will be able to better tailor your instruction to the students’ concerns and backgrounds, and your personal interest in them will inspire their personal loyalty to you. Display a strong interest in students’ learning and a faith in their abilities.

· Use examples freely. Many students want to be shown why a concept or technique is useful before they want to study it further. Inform students about how your course prepares students for future opportunities.

· Use a variety of student-active teaching activities. These activities directly engage students in the material and give them opportunities to achieve a level of mastery.

· Set realistic performance goals and help students achieve them by encouraging them to set their own reasonable goals. Design assignments that are appropriately challenging in view of the experience and aptitude of the class.

· Place appropriate emphasis on testing and grading. Tests should be a means of showing what students have mastered, not what they have not. Avoid grading on the curve and give everyone the opportunity to achieve the highest standard and grades.

Create a moderate classroom's situation. Change in teanching ways between more serious grammar lessons, free talks, songs and creating free topic writing and speaking can improve students' motivation.   

Quite interesting reply Qefsere, Thank you .

Probably been said elsewhere, but the work of Ryan and Deci is excellent as a theoretical basis for designing systems, interactions and interventions link is attached.

http://www.selfdeterminationtheory.org

Some considerations:

1. Provide your students a sense of control

2. Define the objectives

3. Change the setting

4. It offers varied experiences

5. Develop critical thinking

6. Encourages teamwork

7. Promotes argument

8. Promotes constructive criticism

9. Encourages self-reflection

10. Provide feedback

11. Monitors the progress of their activities

1. It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. - Albert Einstein

A good teacher is a good motivator. A successful teacher can motivate his students to form good learning habits,  to create good attitude towards the subjects and willingness to work hard. He must be able  not only  to guide the students towards success, but enable them face failures with stable mindset and strive for success  also. (in studies as well as in life).

http://teach.com/what/teachers-change-lives/teachers-motivate

http://busyteacher.org/6943-teachers-top-10-ways-to-motivate-students.html