Michelle Alvarez

Motivating students using motivational interviewing

I teach psychology and implement motivational interviewing which is a counseling technique with my students. I have them set a goal for themselves at the beginning of class as to the grade they want to receive and have them brainstorm ideas on how they can receive that grade. They also rate their level of motivation and come up with a plan on how to increase that motivation. Mid-term grade time is a good time for them to re-access their motivation as well as whether they are on target to achieve that goal. They also do a change plan around mid-semester which can be a personal goai, but will often have to do with their study strategies in either my class or another. Here is a website on MI if anyone want to check it out http://www.motivationalinterview.org/