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)

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)
 * **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**


 * 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.