Motivation
“What Factors Motivate Students to Learn”
When you were a college student, you likely noticed that your professors had different approaches to teaching. Think about some of your favorite professors. What did they do that was so engaging? How did they interact with their students? How did they make you feel about learning the material in their course? What effect did these behaviors have on your motivation to participate and succeed in their courses?
“Motivation refers to the personal investment that an individual has in reaching a desired state or outcome (Maehr & Meyer, 1997). In the context of learning, motivation influences the direction, intensity, persistence, and quality of the learning behaviors in which students engage (Ambrose et al., 2010).”
We know from experience that faculty can have a great deal of influence on student motivation. More than assigning points to encourage project or assignment completion, research supports the potential for faculty to positively influence student motivation by communicating value, providing a supportive learning environment, and helping students build a higher sense of self-efficacy around the material in their courses.
In How Learning Works (2010), Ambrose and her colleagues, expertly describe What Factors Motivate Students to Learn and illustrate the relationship between value, self-efficacy, the learning environment (i.e. class climate), and student motivation.
How can faculty communicate the value of their course (i.e. the knowledge and ideas of their discipline) and help students build confidence in their ability to meet the course goals and their own? What can faculty do in the classroom to create an environment that fosters engagement and learning? There’s no one answer to any of these questions, so we’ve provided several resources to help you explore these complex and multifaceted ideas.
Resources
Value/Relevance
“Why Are We Doing This?” Establishing Relevance to Enhance Student Learning
Relevance for Learning and Motivation in Education
Self-Efficacy
Self-Efficacy: Helping Students Believe in Themselves
A Closer Look at College Students: Self-Efficacy and Goal Orientation
Building Student Self-Efficacy and Mastery of Skills through Service-learning Partnerships
Self-Efficacy, Stress, and Academic Success in College
Supportive Learning Environment/Class Climate
What is Culturally Responsive Teaching?
A Framework for Culturally Responsive Teaching