Jennifer, knowing your students have been successful and played a role is one of the greatest feelings I know. Thanks for sharing.
James Jackson
My Intrinsic Motivators:
Passion for the subject matter
Desire for my students to succeed
Feeling of being great at what I do
My Extrinsic Motivators:
Job Security
Performance Reviews
Payday
It is a joy to teach students who are intrinsically motivated. They are always "turned on" and eager to learn. As instructors we want all of our students to reach this level. That is why we must constantly use and revise our external motivators until our students can see the value of motivating themselves.
I am intrinsically motivated as an instructor by my own internal love to teach others about my chosen career with is my passion. I find true joy and excitement when I see my students understand the information given in a lecture and them telling me they feel successful. I am extrinsically motivated to be an instructor as I personally am becoming a better communicator as I lecture for multiple hours a day. I have seen my own growth and improvement. I am also motivated extrinsically because I really enjoy my job and want to keep it so I have to be an effective instructor.
My intrinsic motivation is the be a good educator and to help coach the students for the industry they are moving into. I want to give them everything they need to be successful.
My extrinsic motivation is to be seen as a valuable resource on campus. When I see the look in the student's eyes showing they understand, or the phone call saying they've gotten a new job that makes it all worth while.
Lavetta, good to see you are learning from your students. Lifelong learning is not just for our students and they learn this skill by example from their instructors.
James Jackson
Robert, are the student evaluations the only method of measurement of your success?
James Jackson
Extrinsic and Intrinsic
ED112
Facilitator: James Jackson
By Randall Aungst
12/10/2012
Proposed Issue:
What intrinsically motivates you to be effective in the classroom? What extrinsically motivates you to be an excellent instructor?
There are a few issues that drive me intrinsically to be effective in the classroom. The issues revolve around two things; students and family. Students are the reason that any instructor should be teaching. The desire to help them become what they can by striving to get them to give their full effort and reach beyond themselves. This is an internal desire that is rewarded when I, as an instructor, see the proverbial light bulb go on above their head. It is almost as if you can feel the electricity generated by their sudden understanding and clarity. Family is the reason for pushing myself to achieve, in whatever I decide to undertake. Leading by example is a powerful concept and is one that I subscribe to for my children. I push myself so that they can see that anything worth doing is worth doing right and if you never begin a journey you will never know what is at the destination.
Extrinsically there are also two issues that drive me to be an excellent instructor. The first is that the institution that I teach for, as an adjunct instructor, has a grading system of sorts that instructors are measured by and they are measured with each class taught; this has both pros and cons. The pro is that all instructors of the institution are measured by the same rubric by a blind panel. In other words, theoretically there can be no playing favorites because as instructors we don’t have any knowledge of the individuals doing the assessment and they have no knowledge of us. The con is that it promotes an atmosphere of “what have you done for me lately†and accounts nothing for loyalty or promoting the concept of being a valued part of something. The second is my wife. She and I returned to school at the same time and both completed it with significant success, academically. While I, after school, have been unable to attain full time employment, going on three years now, she has been able to progressively advance to a very successful position in a relatively short period of time. As such she is the primary source of financial support for the family at the same time I, while providing some spending money doing something that is respect worthy, am Mr. Mom and home maker. While I understand the situation and believe that my role in the family right now is important, I can’t help but continually battle the feeling of inadequacy that is constantly present. As such I do as much as I can to make her proud to be my wife.
Randall Aungst, MBA
Intrinsically - Knowing I've been a good/effective instructor. Learning from the students. Also, to share my passion of working with computer software to the students and its importance in the working world.
Extrinsically -Having students thank me for being a caring and patient instructor. For those who have asked me to be a reference for jobs.
Intrinsically: I love to teach and love the subject matter.
Extinsically: At the end of the course there is studnet evals and those evals are then rated with the other instructors I pride myself on being one of the best.
First of all, I love what I do. I have high respect for the subject matters that I teach and I turly believe that by sharing my knowledge and experinces coupled with course material as outlined, I can help others on their way to prepare for the work field. Secondly, it is of great satisfaction to me see a student glow with joy when they finally understand a concept or receive a passing grade. Walking the stage, expressions of "I did it", coming back with success stories of their own - is my reward!
As an instructor, I am intrinsically motivated by my interest in my field and being able to do something I enjoy. I am extrinsically motivated by being able to teach my students something new and seeing the progress they make by the end of the module.
Intrinsically I recieve a lot of satisfaction out of a job "well done." I enjoy teaching and I enjoy the material I teach. Avoiding the stress that accompnies feeling unprepared is another intrinsic motivator.
Extrinsically, recieving the postive feedback from students as they comprehend the lesson plan, whether it is verbal feedback or watching group activity run smoothly and effectively. Other extrinsic motivators are teacher evaluation surveys and feedback from my supervisors.
Thanks,
Becky
Ruth, great points. Not sure I have seen an abundance of wealthy instructors but the happiest and most successful tend to follow your comments. Getting paid any amount of money for something you enjoy is truly fulfilling. We need they pay to conduct our lives but we are happy as we watch our students succeed.
James Jackson
John, great technique and gets students active and they become participants of the curriculum versus just observers.
James Jackson
It almost always worked for me to fire up student interest in the materials thought by engaging them in topical discussions. I make them curious by given part of the information then ask them find the rest of the information and bring to class.
John,
I agree with your statement that an instructor can be motivated when students live up to their potentials, because they don't always do so. Sometimes I hear them make excuses about what they cannot do, even before they try. It is a challenge as an instructor to rewire a negative mindset, and get the students to realize their potentials.
I am instrinsically motivated when I am teaching a topic that I enjoy teaching. I am also instrinsically motivated when students also show an interest in the topic. This can also be extrinsically motivating to me, because when I see students learning, it makes me enjoy my job more.
I am also both intricically and extrinsically motivated when I see a student that may have been struggling with a topic, and then a "light bulb" goes on. That makes a difference to me, because I feel that I have made a difference with that student.
I have been teaching for a number a years now, and money is not a significant motivator for me. When I receive student evaluations, and get feedback that the students enjoyed the course, and that they actually got something out of the course, that is more rewarding to me than pay.
When I receive negative feedback from student evaluations, I take it, and try to improve on it, so that can be an extrinsic and intrinsic motivator for me, because it challenges me to be more creative in my teaching.
I am instrincically motivated when I am teaching a topic that I enjoy. I am also instrinsically motivated when I see my students get it, and when they show interest in the topic. When I see a student that may have been struggling with a a topic, and a "light bulb" goes on, then I know I have made a difference. This both intincically and extrinsically motivates me on those days when I would rather be some place else than work.
There are times in the classroom when students may seem bored. This extrincically motivates me to try something different to get them involved. If that something works, then it can be intrinsically rewarding, because I would have accomplished what I set out to accomplish.
Harold, very well dome and such dedication moves you into the category of great versus just good. There are many good instructors but we need more GREAT instructors such as yourself.
James Jackson
Sean, great to hear you focus on the TEAM. All too often I see instructors refer to their situations as individuals. So much more can be accomplished with the student body when the faculty work together versus individually. Thanks for sharing.
James Jackson
