Definition

Motivation refers to the personal investment that an individual has in reaching a desired state or outcome (Maehr & Meyer, 1997).

Why?

When students are motivated, they are more likely to continue learning when faced with struggles.

How to?

Do

• Reinforce goals with high value to encourage learners.

• Uncover both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

• Set goals and explain explicitly the goals to students.
  • Goals should be complex goals to show progress

• Understand the learners expectations and motivations.

• Assess students' by long-term progress instead of one-time performance.
  • Make students worry less about one-time grade, but focus more on overall improvement.

• Design assessments from simple to complex
  • Help students see improvement
  • Help students gain self-efficacy

• Provide task feedback (see growth mindset)

• Give students control.
  • e.g. individual projects

Do NOT

• Use only extrinsic motivation

• Use person feedback (e.g. "You are smart.")