Selecting topics and task that interest students

If the teacher has  a choice to select between two equally worthwhile topics, s/he should select the topics that students will find more enjoyable and exciting.

when a number of methods can be used to accomplish a desired learning outcome, preference must be given to methods that match students; interest.

the teachers can use novel activities that diverge their usual method teaching  and allowing students to learn actively rather than passively.

Source:

Reference:

Forsyth, D. R., & McMillan, J. H. (1991). Practical proposals for motivating students. New directions for teaching and learning, 1991(45), 53-65.

What motivates your students most?

Think there are many different factors motivating students whereby same factor might have different effects on different students & vice-versa.  These factors mainly categorized into in-built motivators like ambitions to become a doctor, astronaut etc. & surrounding environmental motivators like want to turnaround the current poor family condition of the student, mission to help the unfortunate ones surrounding him / her etc. 

Think we can better understand what motivate them (students) by interviewing & solicit what are their personal goals in future or why they like to do what they are doing now etc.  Once we know their goals / inclination we can reinforce their motivators to accelerate the achievement of their goals.

In the nearly fifteen years I have spent in education at the secondary and postsecondary level, I believe student motivation comes from within and through parental guidance.    

Motivating Students

One of the most difficult aspects of becoming a teacher is learning how to motivate your students. It is also one of the most important. Students who are not motivated will not learn effectively. They won’t retain information, they won’t participate and some of them may even become disruptive. A student may be unmotivated for a variety of reasons: They may feel that they have no interest in the subject, find the teacher’s methods un-engaging or be distracted by external forces. It may even come to light that a student who appeared unmotivated actually has difficulty learning and is need of special attention.

While motivating students can be a difficult task, the rewards are more than worth it. Motivated students are more excited to learn and participate. Simply put Teaching a class full of motivated students is enjoyable for teacher and student alike. Some students are self-motivated, with a natural love of learning. But even with the students who do not have this natural drive, a great teacher can make learning fun and inspire them to reach their full potential.

Here are five effective ways to get your students excited about learning:

1. Encourage Students

Students look to teachers for approval and positive reinforcement and are more likely to be enthusiastic about learning if they feel their work is recognized and valued. You should encourage open communication and free thinking with your students to make them feel important. Be enthusiastic. Praise your students often. Recognize them for their contributions. If your classroom is a friendly place where students feel heard and respected, they will be more eager to learn. A “good job” or “nice work” can go a long way.

2. Get Them Involved

 One way to encourage students and teach them responsibility is to get them involved in the classroom. Make participating fun by giving each student a job to do. Give students the responsibility of tidying up or decorating the classroom. Assign a student to erase the blackboard or pass out materials. If you are going over a reading in class, ask students to take turns reading sections out loud. Make students work in groups and assign each a task or role. Giving students a sense of ownership allows them to feel accomplished and encourages active participation in class.

 3. Offer Incentives

Setting expectations and making reasonable demands encourages students to participate, but sometimes students need an extra push in the right direction. Offering students small incentives makes learning fun and motivates students to push themselves. Incentives can range from small to large giving a special privilege to an exemplary student, to a class pizza party if the average test score rises. Rewards give students a sense of accomplishment and encourage them to work with a goal in mind.

4. Get Creative

Avoid monotony by changing around the structure of your class. Teach through games and discussions instead of lectures, encourage students to debate and enrich the subject matter with visual aids, like colorful charts, diagrams, and videos. You can even show a movie that effectively illustrates a topic or theme. Your physical classroom should never be boring: use posters, models, student projects and seasonal themes to decorate your classroom, and create a warm, stimulating environment.

5. Draw Connections to Real Life

“When will I ever need this?” This question, too often heard in the classroom, indicates that a student is not engaged. If a student does not believe that what they’re learning is important, they won’t want to learn, so it’s important to demonstrate how the subject relates to them. If you’re teaching algebra, take some time to research how it is utilized practically for example, in engineering and share your findings with your students. Really amaze them by telling them that they may use it in their career. Showing them that a subject is used everyday by “real” people gives it new importance. They may never be excited about algebra but if they see how it applies to them, they may be motivated to learn attentively.

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

Twenty Tips on Motivating Students

1-Know your students' names and use their names as often as possible.

2-Plan for every class; never try to wing it.

3-Pay attention to the strengths and limitations of each of your students. Reward their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses.

4-If possible, set your room in a U-shape to encourage interaction among students.

5-Vary your instructional strategies; use lectures, demonstrations, discussions, case studies, groups, and more.

6-Review the learning objectives with your students. Be sure students know what they are expected to learn, do, know, etc.

7-Move around the room as you teach.

8-Make your classes relevant. Be sure students see how the content relates to them and the world around them.

9-Be expressive. Smile.

10-Put some excitement into your speech; vary your pitch, volume and rate.

11-Give lots of examples.

12-Encourage students to share their ideas and comments, even if they are incorrect. You'll never know what students don't understand unless you ask them.

13-Maintain eye contact and move toward your students as you interact with them. Nod your head to show that you are listening to them.

14-Provide opportunities for students to speak to the class.

15-Be available before class starts, during break, and after class to visit with students.

16-Return assignments and tests to students as soon as reasonably possible. Provide constructive feedback.

17-Be consistent in your treatment of students.

18-Make sure that your exams are current, valid, and reliable. Tie your assessment to your course objectives.

19-Plan around 15-20 minute cycles. Students have difficulty maintaining attention after a longer period of time.

20-Involve your students in your teaching. Ask for feedback.

http://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/current/teaching/motivating

Hi Michael,

In my 21 years of teaching, there are a few factors which I have found to be motivating for students in their teaching and learning ecosystem . Technology especially in regards to software , gadgets and social media are capable of motivating students to engage in their learning ecosystem . In this case, the learning outcomes are achieved with ease.

Group work too is another motivating pedestal which students look forward to in their learning . The mere interaction with peers motivate students to enrich their learning and this naturally has the potential to improve students soft skills as well.

Field trips motivate students to realistically experience their learning first hand and further work on their experiences like writing a report or summary as an enrichment activity.

regards

Selecting topics and task that interest students

If the teacher has  a choice to select between two equally worthwhile topics, s/he should select the topics that students will find more enjoyable and exciting.

when a number of methods can be used to accomplish a desired learning outcome, preference must be given to methods that match students; interest.

the teachers can use novel activities that diverge their usual method teaching  and allowing students to learn actively rather than passively.

Source:

Reference:

Forsyth, D. R., & McMillan, J. H. (1991). Practical proposals for motivating students. New directions for teaching and learning, 1991(45), 53-65.

Among many school factors, the participation is a key-parameter of student motivation. A lot of researches confirm that when the student is active (alone and/or together his friends) he learns better. If you search “active didactic methodologies” (it is a key-word) you’ll read something about it.

By delivering  our presentations with energy and enthusiasm, our passion motivates our students. Following factors can enhance motivation:

• Attitude—content is relevant for students
• Inclusion—respect for all students
• Meaning—challenging, thought-provoking, valuable course content
• Competence—learning goals are attainable
• Leadership—high expectations, but with structure, feedback, and support
• Satisfaction—benefits to learning

(Temple University Teaching and Learning Center, “Factors that Affect Student Motivation”)

http://teaching.berkeley.edu/motivating-students

I think having an upbeat class full of energy while throwing in a little fun and humor from time to time words wonders. I also walk around the classroom a lot, and try to get to know my students as individuals. I do enjoy talking to my students and do want to know about their lives, and students can feel it if you are sincere. I also give students lots of feedback. For example, I use a 'mistake board' where I write various mistakes on the board and go over them without mentioning names attached to the mistakes. In addition, I use a 'volunteer list' that students sign when volunteering and get a few extra points at the end of the semester.

Minimizing competition and social comparison in the classroom

In competitive settings, students often take steps to minimize their embarrassment over a failure, including deliberately refusing to study, cutting classes, ..., etc.

Making the course content relevant to students

Novel, challenging, or unfamiliar ideas are more interesting to students when they are tied to more familiar, personally relevant ideas.

Source:

Forsyth, D. R., & McMillan, J. H. (1991). Practical proposals for motivating students. New directions for teaching and learning, 1991(45), 53-65.

Meaningful work is driven by intrinsic, rather than extrinsic, motivation. Extrinsic motivation is a nice way of describing when you do things primarily to receive a reward. ... Intrinsic motivation stems from the meaningfulness of the work you do.

so definitely intrinsic motivation of the child.

Intrinsic motivation is completing a skill or activity based on personal interest and enjoyment not for external rewards. ... Provide choices: Children can be more intrinsically motivated if they have a say in how they are accomplishing a goal.

I believe that good psychological rehabilitation of the student leads to impressive results, including increased self-motivation, which leads to increased motivation towards learning