I want students to be MOTIVATED TO LEARN.

Click on the image above to view the video!

This video is a walkthrough of the strategies, technology, and resources found on this outcome webpage. It was recorded during the summer Resource Toolkit Workshop Series (July 2020). You can access the video using your YSU credentials. Please contact atkaufman@ysu.edu if you are unable to access the video.

Faculty can not control everything, but they can create a classroom environment that can encourage students' motivation. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect whether students feel interested in a course and are inspired to work hard in a class. Check out this short video from Dr. José Antonio Bowen on How Student Thinking Works. 

Best practices and tips are provided on this page organized three different classroom motivation strategies:

1.     Inspire interest in the subject matter.
2.     Ensure opportunities for student success.
3.     Create a positive learning environment.

• Inspire Interest in the Subject Matter
  • Help students find personal meaning in the material through real-world problem-solving, personal reflection, applied learning, and/or career-based case study.
  • Identify assignments that require curiosity, challenge, or mastery.
    • Use the NILOA Assignment Library to explore assignments by discipline, level, or proficiency.
  • Avoid “busy work,” and seek assignments that students will see as valuable.
    • Connect your assignments to your course learning outcomes; find out more at "I want my course to encourage learning."
  • Give students as much control over their own education as possible (e.g., topics, projects, class structure, etc.)
• Ensure Opportunities for Student Success
  • Give students opportunities for success early in the semester to give them confidence and avoid demoralizing feelings. Once students succeed, incrementally increase the difficulty level.
  • Assign tasks that are realistic.
  • Avoid grading on the curve to give all students the opportunity for high scores.
  • Teach students effective learning strategies
    • Consider sharing resources from Dr. Saundra McGuire; such as The Study Cycle
  • Teach students about growth mindset and share your own struggles.
    • Take the short mindset assessment to assess your assumptions about mindset.
    • Consider sharing this video with your students: What is growth mindset?
  • Encourage and reward peer tutoring
• Create a Positive Learning Environment
  • Help students feel valued: be open-minded, enthusiastic, friendly, and know your students. Enthusiasm is especially relevant to student motivation – it's contagious!
  • Use a variety of teaching methods – keep things interesting. Use active learning methods as much as possible.
  • Read our pages on effective feedback (giving early feedback is especially important), helping students stay involved, personalizing your class, and creating an equitable classroom.