"Security" in the classroom
Self-confidence in the classroom, or security, is a key to unlock students intrinsic motivation. The two go hand in hand and are driven by each other. When students find thier self worth they find their motivation.
I agree. I try to bring out the intrinic by offering many extrinisic activities. As an RN instructor I involve the students in helping make up questions for their pharmacology test. If the questions make sense they are added to the test. The students become very active in this actvity and are excited when they see their questions on the test.
Marian U
James...I have to agree with your comment regarding self-worth, it is an end result of the relationship (good or bad) established between individuals. Often our students come to school having never been encouraged, accommodated or supported in any type of intrinsic achievement motivation situation educational or otherwise. As educators, we have the unique opportunity as mentor, counselor, parental figure or friend to help our students grow or even discover their self-worth through new motivational achievement patterns such as intrinsic verses extrinsic.
Mike, you bring forward some key concepts and these situations do exist. One thing I would like to add is there are many different learning styles and different types of personalities. Motivation can be a very tricky concept to map to any single element with respect to cause and effect. The one focal point that provides the best dividends is the importance of relationship building between an instructor and student and between an institution and the student. The relationship tends to be even more powerful than the initial self worth. The self worth needs to be a goal and end result but the relationship is key to achieving that end goal.
James Jackson
