Improving Classroom Engagement and International Development Programs by Blessinger Patrick;Sengupta Enakshi;Makhanya Mandla;

Author:Blessinger, Patrick;Sengupta, Enakshi;Makhanya, Mandla;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
Published: 2020-07-08T00:00:00+00:00

Student Motivation

The book How Learning Works (Ambrose et al., 2010) addresses the factors that motivate students to learn. The authors state that in order to help students connect to the theory and understand its importance, research suggests that faculty need to increase the value that students place on course activities. Two such strategies for establishing the value of the assignment or activity are connecting the material to students’ interests and providing authentic, real-world connections.

As an example, in a psychology graduate course that one of the authors was teaching on assessment, many students seemed to be disengaged. One day she took a break from talking theory and instead had the students do some reflective writing about their goals for their career. What motivated them to choose counseling psychology? What kind of clients did they want to serve? What difference did they hope to make in the lives of their clients? After writing for about eight minutes, they talked in small groups, sharing their thoughts, and then they shared their reflections as a class. As each student shared, the professor asked, “What kind of skills do you need to help your clients?” By the end of our conversation, the community had made the connection between understanding how assessment results clarify the clients’ challenges and allow the development of appropriate interventions so clients can move forward in a healthy way. This process of mutual knowing created a new level of motivation for learning.

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