Are you frustrated at the challenge of working with underachieving and unmotivated students? What motivates them to learn? What can we do to improve the situation? This session will explore what does motivate underachievers, and some concrete actions teachers can take to improve learning for every student.
Strategies:
- Inviting SchoolsClass ProceduresConnecting to KidsSchool ClimateEnthusiasmHumor
- Continuous ImprovementTransparent CurriculumFlexibility of PaceFlexibility of PathFormative Feedback
- Learning by DoingFollow-up Craft ProjectsExperimentsBuilding ThingsField TripsDrama
- Student Voice & ChoiceChoice of Activities or ResourcesStudent Designed WorkProjectsCollect Student Input & Feedback
- Higher Order ThinkingCompare & ContrastDesign ProjectsMetaphors & Examples“Engaging Tasks”
- Real World ConnectionsReal World UsesReal Audience for WorkCommunity ConnectionsSimulations
Resources:
- Motivating Students: Focus on 6 Strategies
- Classifying a Student’s Level of Motivation
- What Motivates Underachieving Students? (Middle School Journal, Nov. 2001)
- Tone of Voice Matters (In Surprising Ways)
- Articles on Ineffective Motivators, especially Extrinsic Rewards
- Characteristics of Good Learning Experiences
- Engaging Tasks – a high impact motivation strategy
- The McMEL Motivation Page
Mike’s Sites:
- McMEL (Maine Center for Meaningful Engaged Learning)
- Blog: MultiplePathways.info
- Learning Through Technology Blog: MoreVerbs.info
- Micro-credentials Project: iLearnMaine.org
- Mike’s Consulting: StudentLearning.Guru
- Mike’s Day Job: (Learning Through) Tech Director, MSAD 44 (Bethel, ME)
Student Learning Guru 