Motivation and RewardsCaitlin Taylor
Mechanicsburg Area School District
What motivates you?
How do you motivate your students?
What We Will Cover...
Behaviorism
Temporary Demotivation
Apathy
Rewards and the Brain
Factors that effect rewards
Intrinsic motivation
Behaviorism and Education
Began in 1950's with Behaviorism
Rewards were cheap, harmless, and effective
Effective only for simple physical actions
Complex behaviors impaired by rewards
Humans seek new experiences and behaviors regardless
Temporary Demotivation
1. Past associations
2. Classroom environment
3. Relationship with the future
• content beliefs
• context beliefs
Apathy
• 3 categories are temporary states
• Appropriate response to the environment
• States constantly changing
• Disappears with engaging activity or music
What is a reward?
Predictability
• Know what it is ahead of time
Market value
• Grades, candy, etc.
Factors that Effect Rewards
Genetics
Life experiences
• Thrive off survival
• Success in cooperative roles of leader and follower
• Emotional literacy skills needed
Intrinsic Motivation
Compelling goals
Positive beliefs
Productive emotions
• Stress and threat mobilize or do not
Learner's natural search and construction for meaning
Strategies
1. Eliminate threat
2. Daily goal-setting
3. Influence students' positive beliefs in themselves
4. Manage student emotions through movement and celebration
5. Provide feedback
How will this new knowledge motivate you to motivate your students?
Your turn!
Resources UsedInformation:
Jensen, E. (2005). Teaching with the brain in mind. Alexandria, VA: ASCD
MacDonald, M.(2008). Your brain: the missing manual. Canada: O'Reilly Media.
Images:
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