Instructions
on the Content and Format of Your Website
Your group will create a website with the following two sections:
1. Description of Your Motivational Topic
Purpose. To help your fellow classmates
understand what your topic is and why it is important.
Contents. You should provide helpful information
about your topic by at least do the following:
A. Clearly describing the main constructs (e.g.,
learning goals, intrinsic motivation, self-regulation) of your topic.
B. Discussing how these constructs influence learning.
C. Discussing the factors that influence these
constructs.
D. Describing effective teaching methods related to
these constructs.
Example: If my topic was self-regulation, then
I would clearly describe what self-regulation is, how self-regulation
influences learning, what factors lead students to be self-regulated, and
teaching methods that have proven effective at developing self-regulation.
As part of describing you topic, I want you to
include at least one figure, table or diagram.
This section should be written with your classmates
in mind as the primary audience, so be sure to explain all the scholarly terms
you use – make it easy to read and understand!
2. Analysis of Calvin
Purpose: To make sense of Calvin! And to help
your classmates learn to apply your motivational topic to real-world situations
(or in the case of Calvin, out-of-this-world situations).
Contents. In this section you should analyze
CalvinŐs behavior from the perspective of your motivational topic. Specifically, you should thoroughly address the
following questions:
á
What is
CalvinŐs motivational pattern?
Describe his motivation in terms of the constructs that are central to your
motivational topic.
á
Why does
he have this particular pattern? Now
is your opportunity to try to explain Calvin! Why does he act the way he does?
You can address individual factors as well as environmental factors. Your
answer should relate to your discussion – in the first section – of
the factors that influence motivation.
á
What can
the teacher do to foster a more productive motivational pattern? Here
is your chance to save CalvinŐs academic life! Come up with a thoughtful plan
of action for solving the problem. This plan may include changes in curriculum,
instruction, assessment, classroom management, or any other relevant area. This
plan should be based on your motivational topic. In particular, it should
relate to your prior discussion – in the first section – of
effective teaching methods, and your analysis of why Calvin acts the way he
does.
Once again, your writing should be clear and easy
to read. And donŐt neglect to do the analysis from the perspective of your
motivational topic.