making horses thirsty: understanding motivation to learn
DESCRIPTION
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” Sometimes we repeat this old saying when we feel our students are not motivated to learn despite our best efforts. Is it true? Does everybody have a set level of motivation? Can you motivate someone else? We will explore classroom-practical answers to these questions based on contemporary research on motivation.TRANSCRIPT
Making Horses Thirsty: Increasing Motivation to Learn
Clayton Austin, [email protected](o) 904.358.6623(m) 904.465.3966
A man maie well bring a horse to the water, But he can not make him drinke without he will.
A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, John Heywood, 1546
• ANIMAL• DOG• BREED• PERSONALITY
Uh-oh Bubba, looks like this one is about a
quart low on motivation… better
just close the hood….
Maybe we should
check the IQ level?
LIBIDO
THANATOS
Quality
QuantityDo you have
a lot or a little?
Is it long-lasting, persistent,
steady, resilient, adaptive?
Think back to your initial college experience.
• What was the quality of your motivation?
Was it long-lasting, persistent, steady, resilient,
adaptive?
Before First Year of College
After First Year of College
Wasted Youth: College Freshmen Tell ALLhttp://www.momlogic.com/2008/12/wasted_youth_freshmen_tell_all_1.php
25% of freshmen have missed classes/assignments because they've partied too much
10% admit their grades are suffering because of partying
75% of freshmen feel that there ARE negative ramifications to partying
26% of freshmen feel they have to party to fit in
40% of freshmen say their parents DON'T know how much they party
56% of freshmen say they know someone who has ended up in the hospital because of partying
Who is motivated to do a crossword
puzzle?
7 letter words : Abdruck, Ausfuhr, Ausland, Etagere, gerecht, illegal, Laertes, Legende, Notfall, Pelikan, virtuos 8 letter words : Ebenholz, Grimasse, Oelfarbe 9 letter words : Allegorie, Epaulette, Erzaehler, Nitschewo 10 letter words : Extrawurst, Weingarten
4 letter words : Cela, Ecke, Mono, raet, Sete. 5 letter words : Akten, Alter, altig, Dakar, genau, Guete, Larve, Lasso, Liste, Manie, Opfer, Pfote, Tonic, Waadt 6 letter words : Ataman, Einehe, eirund, Figaro, Flocke, Glarus, Ikarus, Indigo, morsch, online, Rebell, single, Weiler
Who is motivated to
do a crossword puzzle in German?Who is motivated to do a
logic puzzle?
Motivation is not inside a person
Motivation is between a person and a task
Motivation
Student
Task
AutonomyRelationshipCompetence
Autonomy
1: the quality or state of being self-governing ; especially : the right of self-government2: self-directing freedom and especially moral independence3: a self-governing state
www.wordle.net/create
Good News!As a teacher, you have a significant
effect on the quality of motivation your students adopt!
As a teacher, you have a significant effect on the quality of motivation your students adopt!
Bad News
His weaponsThe Yardstick: a katana that
resembles a yardstick.Pencils: throwing spikes Apples: red tear-gas
grenades Chalk Dust: used to create
obscuring clouds and blind opponents.
Erasers: apparently normal chalkboard erasers that conceal high-explosives.
PROFESSOR PAIN
http://www.atomicthinktank.com/viewtopic.php?p=298132
How do I support autonomy?• Let students handle materials• Ask about students’ wants• Respond to questions• Foster task relevance• Express students’ emotional perspectives• Don’t give answers• Provide rationale for activities• Promote task value• Give positive and negative feedback• Personalize • Contextualize• Provide choice• Give less “should” statements
How do I support autonomy?
Grade
TALK
How to Grade Papers
1. Stack papers2. Knock stack over3. Grade as follows:
Face up: CFace down: FOn side: A
Choose Your Final Grade Exercise1
110 Top Teaching TipsDean Mancina, Golden West College
http://www.academic.cengage.com/tlconnect/client/discipline/archiveSeminar.do?id=18
Rubrics!Use free Rubistar website to make quick and easy rubricsBetter yet, have your students make them for their own projects/papersQuick change templates or build from scratchDownload in MS Excel, Internet Explorer or Blackboard
Recycle!Student completes
paper, project, or test
Student receives grade with detailed comments
for improvement
Student addresses comments and can earn up to half of
missed points
i.e. Initial 60% can become final 80%, initial 90% can become 95%
Which pajamas do you want to
wear?
Allow students to focus on course topics of particular interestMore authentic or “real world”Encourage higher order thinking, instead of just memorizing
Write a 500 word article for a student paper. Interview a successful college graduate. Tell their story connecting it to at least three key course concepts. Incorporate a photo, and at least one song lyric or line of poetry.
Avoid spending time on “special circumstances”Avoid late workShow appreciation for complexity of student lives and learning
Talk
Whose class will adopt better motivation?
Professor S. Marty Pantsor
Professor F. Fort
Professor S. Marty Pants
“In each of these puzzles, a list of words is given. To
solve the puzzle, think of a single word that goes with each to form a compound
word (or word pair that functions as a compound word). For example, if the
given words are volley, field, and bearing, then the answer would be ball,
because the word ball can be added to each of the
other words to form volleyball, ballfield, and ball
bearing. Do you understand?”
Professor S. Marty Pants
Ok, type an answer in the chatbox. Here comes the
first one….
The words are…
backshortwatch
What word can be added to all of these to form a
compound word?
Professor S. Marty Pants
That ‘s right… stop!
The compound words are…
backstopshortstopstopwatch
You all did great! This is an intelligent class. I know you all are very smart and very bright. You can really
solve these!
Professor F. Fort
“We are going to do more compound word
puzzles. Are you ready?
Professor F. Fort
Ok, type the answer in the chatbox. Here comes the
first one….
The words are…
stoolpowder
ball
What word can be added to all of these to form a
compound word?
Professor F. Fort
That ‘s right… foot!
The compound words are…
footstoolfoot powder
football
You all did great. You showed great effort. I
noticed you were sounding out possibilities and
sharing ideas with your neighbors. You can really
solve these!
Prof. Pants Prof. Fort
Praises effort, strategy,
persistence
Praises intelligence,
ability, “smarts” Positive
EnthusiasticCommunicative
Prof. Pants Prof. Fort
Attempt hard tasks
Give more effort during struggle
Attempt easy tasks
Quit during struggle
After success,students continue
to work
Carol Dweck (1999) “Caution- Praise Can Be Dangerous”
What’s my motivation?
…to get the grade, baby!….to get parent/teacher approval…to feel pride in GPA….to avoid feelings of failure
So, I have to graduate. My dad has a job
for me in the family business, but he
won’t hire me until I graduate, and I
need the cash for my brand new car! So
I have got to pass these tests, I mean
really I want an “A”. I mean I am an A
student, you tell me what I need to do
and I’ll do it.. But these professors just
go on and on, I mean, just tell me what
is on the test! I’m busy, you know? On
that paper, I copied some of it, but most
of it I sat down and wrote, but some
things came up at the last minute. But if
I know what is on the test, I can cram it,
get an A, and get on with life. I mean
school is ok, but who is going to need
all of this stuff anyway?
This is Charlie
…to be educated and cultured
….to provide for yourself and loved ones
…for the sheer joy, pleasure and interest of
learning
So, I have to graduate. My dad has a job for me in the family business, but he won’t hire me until I graduate, and I am ready to stop living off scholarships and loans, and start taking care of myself. So I have got to pass these tests. I mean I would really want an A, who wouldn’t? But I want to understand what I am learning, not just cram for a test and forget it in a week. My study group really helps, we talk through these ideas, quiz each other and stuff. You know, I feel like I want to learn it even more so I can help them if they get stuck on something. Some of this stuff I won’t ever need, but who knows? A lot of it is interesting anyway, even if I never use it. Besides, a lot of my friends couldn’t even get here, and I feel very lucky to get a college education.
This is Ken
Extrin
sic
Intrin
si
c
Timmermans, Vansteenkiste, and Lens (2004)
More autonomous, academically adjusted 1st year college student
More controlled academically maladjusted 1st year college student
• Instructors who frame intrinsic goals for students
Vansteenkiste, Lens, and Deci, 2006
• Instructors who frame no goals for students
• Instructors who frame extrinsic goals for students
Write an intrinsic goal fortune cookie for your students
Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.
Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.
Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird. Chuck Norris can eat just one Lay's potato chip.
Take off the training wheels!
Thank you!
Clayton Austin, [email protected](o) 904.358.6623(m) 904.465.3966