Strategies for Teaching

The amount of effort people will expend on a task is a product of the degree that they expect to be able to do the task successfully if they apply themselves and the degree that they value the task. (rewards it will bring them).

(Expectancy x value theory - Feather) intrinsic x extrinsic motivation.

Essential preconditions for Motivation of learners

1. Supportive environment (not chaotic, alienated, anxious)
2. Appropriate level of challenge: Minimize risk of failure
3. 1. bored if too easy.
   2. frustrated if too difficult.
4. Meaningful learning objectives – (must feel knowledge or skill is worth learning).
5. Moderation – strategy loses its effectiveness if done too often.
6. Program for success – The simplest way to ensure that student expect success is to make sure they achieve it consistently.
7. Teach goal setting, appraisal, and self-reinforcement skills.
8. 1. provide specific feedback - i.e.: complete assignment with no more than 1 error.
9. Help students to recognize linkage between effort and outcome:
10. 1. Use modeling, socialization, and feedback.
    2. effort as an investment.
11. Provide Remedial Socialization:
12. 1. allows struggling students to overcome initial failures (eliminate fear of failure)
    2. performance contracts, additional instruction opportunities, make-up exams.
13. Offer rewards for good (or improved) performance (problem if students focus on rewards and not on developing knowledge).
14. Structure appropriate competition.
15. 1. extrinsic incentives and competition are more effective for stimulating intensity of effort than for inducing thoughtfulness or quality of performance.
16. Call attention to functional value of academic activity.
17. Adapt tasks to student interests.
18. Allow choice or autonomous decisions.
19. Provide immediate feedback.

[introduction] [motivation theories] [strategies for adults] [questions]

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