Motivation: concepts, theories, and applications

¶ … improve student motivation. This is accomplished through conducting a literature review and comparing the finding with each other. Once this occurs, is when we can see how these tools can be used in a modern day educational environment.

Over the last several years, the issue of student motivation has been increasingly brought to forefront. Part of the reason for this, is because American students are falling behind many of their counterparts in developed and developing nations. Evidence of this can be seen by looking no further than the below tables (which is illustrating where the U.S. ranks for 12th grade students in comparison with other nations in science).

versus Developed and Developing Nations for Academic Performance for Science

Country

Score

Sweden

Netherlands

Iceland

Norway

Canada

New Zealand

Australia

Switzerland

Austria

Slovenia

Denmark

Germany

France

Czech Republic

Russia

United States

Italy

Hungary

Lithuania

Cyprus

South Africa

("The Third International Mathematics and Science Study," 2010)

These different figures are significant, because they are illustrating how many American students are unmotivated to learn some of the most basic concepts.

Research Questions

As a result, a new approach must be taken that will effectively reach out to students. To determine this, we will conduct an annotated bibliography by: reviewing various scholarly journals, studies and books over the last five years. This will be accomplished by focusing on a number of different research questions to include:

What tools are most effective in motivating students?

How can these ideas be applied to specific lesson plans?

What are the views of different players on this issue and how can they be applied to individual teaching philosophy?

Once these questions have been answered, is when we will be able to see those specific tactics that can be utilized to effectively motivate students. This is when there will be an improvement in achievement scores.

Annotated Bibliography

To decide which strategy is most effective requires comparing different sources with each other. Once this occurs, is when we will be able to answer the different research questions and show how this can improve the quality of overall of education that students are receiving. This is when we can begin applying these tools inside specific educational environments.

What Tools are most effective in Motivating Students?

Anderson, G. (2009). Achieving Teaching Excellence. Charleston, SC: Anderson Publishing.

In the piece of literature that was written by Anderson (2009), he is discussing how all teachers must use a host of different tools in reaching out to students. The reason why, is because the attention span of students is shorter than it used to be and many already think that material is boring. The combination of these factors can mean that educators will have barriers that they will have to overcome when reaching out to everyone. (Anderson, 2009, pp. 15 -- 16)

To achieve these objectives, Anderson believes that there are specific tools that can be used when reaching out to students. The most notable include: making the subject more interesting, establishing goals, providing informative positive feedback, encourage participation and showing interest in your students. These different elements are important, because the combination of them can be used as a basic approach to reach out to students. This is when there can be change in the total amounts of learning comprehension inside the classroom. The information from this source is useful, because it is providing us with a foundation for understanding how to motivate students. (Anderson, 2009, pp. 15 -- 16)

Barkley, E. (2009). Student Engagement Learning Techniques. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.

Moreover, the piece of literature that was written by Barkley (2009), is discussing how different behaviorist strategies must be used to motivate students. The reason why, is because this approach will give them real time feedback about the most appropriate behavior. The way that this is accomplished is by having the educator provide the students with a series of different rewards for following certain actions that are considered to be acceptable (i.e. participating in the discussion, paying attention and applying what they learn). To achieve these objectives there are a number of tools that are used the most notable include: offering praise, rewards and selection from key assignments for the individual doing their very best. At the same time, there must be an emphasis on having negative reinforcement. This is when the student will not receive any kind of attention or support for activities that are not constructive to the class (i.e. acting standoffish or truculent during the discussion). Once this occurs, is when students will participate in the class on a regular basis. Over the course of time, this can lead to changes in achievement scores by helping to encourage the student to become involved in constructive activities. The information from this source is useful, because it is illustrating how this technique can establish a system of expectations in class. (Barkley, 2009, pp. 84 -- 88)

Shindler, J. (2010). Transformative Classroom Management. San Francisco, CA: Josey Bass.

In the piece of literature that was written by Shindler (2009), he is talking about how the relationship between the teacher and student are critical for any kind of academic success. The reason why, is because the pupil will look to educators as someone in authority that will teach them about life. Depending upon the experience, this will shape who the student will become in the future and the kind of pursuits that are of most interest to them. In order to make this kind of relationship grow, educators must show that they care about the individual. This is accomplished by embracing several different principals to include: showing a positive attitude towards students, maintaining close relationship with them, focusing on the needs of the student, avoiding excessive personal praise and taking an interest in the activities of students. These elements are important, because they are showing how all educators must first let students know that they care about them. This is when they can be effective in reaching out to them and the way they understand the material. The information from this source is useful, because it is showing how all teachers must have a sense caring about their students in order to be able to relate with them. (Shindler, 2009, pp. 114 -- 115)

Guiloteaux, J. (2008). Motivating Language Learners. TESOL Quarterly, 42 (1), 55 -- 77.

Furthermore, Guiloteaux (2008) discusses how educators must use different tools such as: computers and understanding certain cultural characteristics to reach out to students. This is accomplished through having everyone work in a series of groups. During the process of doing this, they will utilize these kind of applications to enhance the individual's understanding of the material. As, this is giving everyone: another way of remembering key ideas and applying them in the future. While knowing about how different cultural traditions, will take into account the views of each individual and the customs they embrace. This reduces any kind of issues for misunderstanding and it improves the ability of educators to easily relate to them. Once this occurs, is when the student will see an improvement in their mental attitude. The information from this source is useful, because it is illustrating how any kind of motivational strategy must have educators using technology and understanding cultural factors. (Guiloteaux, 2008, pp. 55 -- 77)

Fan, W. (2010). The effects of parental involvement on students' academic self-efficacy, engagement and intrinsic motivations. Educational Psychology, 30 (1), 53 -- 74.

In this article, there is a discussion about the how parents can have an impact on the development of the child. As the author found that they are having an effect on the way they look at everyone around them and the underlying levels of support they are receiving. Once this occurs, is when there will be change in student perceptions about themselves and how they are seeing the current challenges they are facing. (Fan, 2010, pp. 52 -- 74)

Katz, I. (2010). Students Needs Teachers. Journal of Experimental Education, 78, 246 -- 267.

Moreover, the article that was written by Katz (2010), is discussing how there needs to be some kind of collaboration between the educator, parents and student. The reason why is because the ideas that are taught in the classroom can be applied at home. Once this takes place, is when there is a change in psychological perceptions about education and their role in it with the student becoming more actively involved. This is the point that there will be positive developments in the way they see themselves and the world around them. (Katz, 2010, pp. 246 -- 267)

How can these ideas be applied to specific lesson plans?

Bernaus, M. (2008). Teacher Motivation Strategies. The Modern Language Journal, 92 (2), 387 -- 401.

In the article that was written by Bernaus (2008), it is talking about the how the perceptions of the student will have an impact on the way various concepts are applied. This is because, these ideas will influence if they will listen to a particular educator over that of another. For example, let's say that a student has tremendous amounts of respect for their history teacher. While at the same time, they do not like their math teacher. These two contrasting views will have a negative impact on how they will deal with a host of situation. As, the student is more willing to listen to ideas of teachers they like and respect. Whereas those educators, that are often looked down upon will be ineffective in reaching out to their student. This is significant, because it is showing how inside the classroom the teacher must be able to relate to each person. As a result, the way that this idea can be used in the classroom is to establish an initial foundation of support for the educator and the views that are being presented. The way that this is accomplished is through effectively reaching out to the student by ensuring that they are in a positive frame of mind. (Bernaus, 2008, pp. 387 -- 401)

Boyer, K. (2009). Investigating the Role of Student Motivation. Computer Science Education, 19 (2), 111 -- 135.

Moreover, the research from Boyer (2009), is illustrating how computers could be utilized in conjunction with one on one instruction. This can help to improve learning comprehension to identify those students who will need additional assistance. Once this occurs, is when they can then have the student go through more interactive learning sessions. The way that this will occur is with predetermined meetings before or after school. During this time, the student will reviews the concepts they were having trouble with in class. They will then, have them go through a series of activities that will discuss another point-of-view and have exercises at the end of each session. If this kind of approach can be used in the classroom, it will ensure that students will be able to increase their overall amounts of learning comprehension. The way that this would take place, is to have those who are scoring the lowest in the class receive additional assistance. This will ensure that they have adequate amounts of follow up and help in understanding different concepts. The information from this source is useful, because it is illustrating how all educators must apply these techniques by: identifying and working with those students who will need the most assistance. This is the point that there will be an increase in test scores. (Boyer, 2009, pp. 111 -- 135)

McGlyn, A. (2009). Millenials in College. Education Digest, 73 (6), 19 -- 22.

Furthermore, the article that was written by McGlyn (2009), is talking about the challenges that many educators are facing when they are reaching out millennial students. This is because they have different viewpoints about: what is expected of them and the role that technology is playing in their lives. According to the author, unorthodox approaches must be taken to effectively reach out to this group. (McGlyn, 2009, pp. 19 -- 22)

The best way that this can be achieved is for educators to alter the lesson plan away from the traditional lecture format. This means that they must take an approach where they catch the student's attention early. At which point, there must be a focus on using technology during the course of the lecture to illustrate new concepts. In the classroom, this can be applied by having select sessions that will involve students working with technology. There also will be days for group discussion about these concepts and how they relate to the world we live in. This is important, because it is showing how this can be applied in a classroom setting to reach out to millennial students. Once this occurs, is when the educator will be able to relate to everyone and improve the overall amounts of learning comprehension. The information from this source is useful, because it is illustrating how these techniques can be applied to a classroom setting. This is the point that the educator can make adjustments to their strategy based on the different generational influences of the student. (McGlyn, 2009, pp. 19 -- 22)

What are the views of different players on this issue and how can they be applied to individual teaching philosophy?

Leung, W. (2011). Case Studies of Factors affecting Education. Music Education Research, 13 (1), 69 -- 91.

In the article that was written by Leung (2011), she is discussing the individualist theory of education. This is when the student is placing an emphasis on individual characteristics over that of the group. The basic idea under this kind of philosophy, is that the students can be able learn more when they are allowed to explore concepts that are of interest to them. As a result, she found that there are several attributes that educators should be focused on to include: the initial levels of motivation, short-term focus and ensuring long-term enthusiasm on the project. These different elements are important, because they are showing how some thinkers believe that the best way to reach out to students is to effectively motivate them on an individual level. Once this occurs, is when the student will feel a sense of empowerment. This is when the total amounts of learning comprehension will increase exponentially by fueling a continuous desire in the student to learn new concepts. The information from this source is useful, because it is showing how a common thinking in modern education is supporting these overall objectives. The way that this can be applied to our teaching philosophy is to understand how the students must be continually motivated to do more. This is when they will begin to see academic success.

Bausser, J. (2010). Youth Sport Volunteer Motivation. Managing Leisure, 15 (1), 128 -- 139.

Moreover, other theories were introduced that are illustrating how the ideas of individual motivation in an educational environment are important. According to Bausser (2010), the overall amounts of enthusiasm will determine how successful someone will be under a functionalist system. This is when there is an emphasis on imposing society's values and principals upon the student. The basic idea with this approach is that education is supposed to serve the larger objectives of society itself. (Bausser, 2010, pp. 128 -- 139)