Notes+on+Content+and+Motivation


 * Relevant Concepts From “Connecting Content and Motivation: Education’s Missing Link”** **by Daniel J. Burke**

Two types of Motivation:

//Extrinsic motivation//: tangible rewards for education such as letter grades, money, material success //Intrinsic motivation//: learner motivation


 * Suggestions for the model educational system:**


 * Emphasis on connection to real world should be the main “classroom activity” in order to foster a continuation of learning outside the classroom
 * Curriculum should focus on **how to learn not what to learn**
 * **Role of Testing**
 * Historically, testing rarely encourages students to apply their knowledge to the real world
 * Is a poor motivational device in classrooms
 * “competition in the learning environment did not produce better learning results than did cooperative activities” (68)
 * Connection to //No Child Left Behind// Legislation in the United States
 * Content should be taught utilizing many motivational tools
 * **Relationship between Content and Motivation**
 * **“An individual becomes motivated during the act of learning, not before it”** (70)
 * Relevancy of curriculum is key: If students find no connection to the subject matter—what value does it hold?
 * How is content selected, applied, delivered and assessed?
 * **Relevancy in the New Global Economy:** Because “high-tech, high-skill level” careers have less availability to youth than jobs requiring a low level skill set, many student are not motivated to gain skills they will not use. Burke asks, “what knowledge becomes essential for these students?” (73)


 * **Addressing Student Influences on Motivation**
 * How are students individualized in order to be provided with appropriate motivational techniques?
 * Learning disabilities, economic disadvantages, safety concerns, different learning styles other psychological factor
 * **Intrinsic Motivation**
 * **Content: must have significance to the student**
 * **Ability to succeed: by demonstrating or presenting learned information successfully**



Pecentage of high school senior's response to the question above in 1980 and 2001 by gender. (University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, Monitoring the Future Study)


 * Teachers Facilitate the Relationship between content and motivation**
 * Students assist in the development of courses, learning experiences and the design of testing that demonstrates knowledge, skill, performance and attitude attainment.
 * Choice is an essential part of the learning environment.
 * Curriculum relevancy is of utmost importance.
 * Responsibility for learning belongs to the student.
 * Learning how to think is fostered and stimulated in the students.
 * All student experiences, interest and other resources should be a part of the classroom.
 * Student feedback is vital to good teaching.
 * Consistent intrinsic motivation fulfills long term learner goals.
 * All students produce evidence in the form of learner generated records of their learning.