21 Ideas to improve motivation in students

Most students have years of experience in classes where they have been forced to sit quietly and listen. For them the teacher was the source of knowledge, so learning was something that was magically injected at some point without the participation of his consciousness.

The reality indicates that the important thing is not teaching, but what the students learn. The quality of learning is directly, though not exclusively, related to the quality of teaching. One of the best ways to improve learning is to improve teaching.

For educational-pastoral purposes, we share the Club Ediba blog post where they published some ideas to motivate our students.

Best ideas to improve motivation in students

As much as we have the best books, projects and materials in the world, that will not be enough to keep students interested in learning and working hard if they are not motivated.

For this reason, from the  Teach Thought blog they  present 21 ideas to improve motivation and we translate it to make it available to everyone.

Motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic, is a key factor in student success at all stages of their education, and teachers play a critical role in providing and encouraging that motivation. Obviously, this is much easier said than done, since all students find motivation in different ways and it takes time and a lot of effort to learn how to excite a class full of children, work hard and strive for excellence.

Even the best-intentioned and educated teachers sometimes lack the ability to keep their students on track. Whether you are a new teacher or an experienced one, try applying these methods to motivate your students and encourage them to reach their potential.

Here is the list of ideas for students:

1.  Give your students a sense of control

While a teacher’s guidance is important for students to stay on task and motivated, allowing them some choice and some control over what happens in class is one of the best ways to keep them engaged. For example, letting them choose the type of task to do or which problems to work on can give them a sense of control that can motivate them to do more.

2. Define the objectives

It can be frustrating for students to complete an assignment or behave properly in class if there are no clearly defined goals. Students want and need to know what is expected of them in order to stay motivated. At the beginning of the year, set clear goals, rules, and expectations so there is no confusion and students have goals to work toward.

3. Create a threat-free environment

While students need to understand that there are consequences to their actions, positive reinforcement is much more motivating. When teachers create a safe and supportive environment, stating that they believe in their students’ abilities instead of describing the consequences of not doing something, students will meet the expectations that the adults around them communicate to them, so focus on what can be done, not in what can’t.

4. Change the scenery

A classroom is a great place to learn, but sitting at a desk day in and day out can make school boring for some students. To renew interest, give your students the opportunity to leave the classroom. Do fieldwork, invite speakers, or just take them to the library for some research. The brain loves novelty, and a new setting may be just what your students need to stay motivated to learn.

5. Offer varied experiences

Not all students will respond to assignments in the same way. For some, it will be easier to do those that involve handing in some work. Others will love reading books or working in groups. To keep all your students motivated, mix up assignments so those with different preferences can focus on what they like best. Doing this will help students stay engaged and pay attention.

6. Use positive competition

Competition in class is not always a bad thing, and in some cases it can motivate students to work hard and strive for excellence. Work to create a friendly, competitive spirit in your class, perhaps through group games related to the material or other opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge.

7. Offer rewards

Everyone loves rewards, and offering your students the chance to earn them is a great source of motivation. Things like watching movies, sharing a pizza, or something as simple as a label on a piece of paper can make your students work harder and strive to catch up. Consider the personality and needs of your students to determine appropriate rewards for your class.

8. Give your students responsibilities

Assigning your students class work is a great way to build community and motivate them. Most will see jobs as a privilege rather than a burden and will work hard to ensure they are meeting expectations. It can also be helpful to allow students to take turns leading activities or helping each other feel important and valued.

9. Let them work together

While not all students will be excited about working in groups, many will find it fun to try to solve problems, do experiments, and work on projects with other students. Social interaction can excite them and students can motivate each other to reach a goal. However, teachers need to ensure that groups are balanced and fair, so that some students are not working harder than others.

10. Praise them when they deserve it

There is no other form of motivation that works better than encouragement. Even as adults, we need recognition and praise, and students of any age are no exception. Teachers can motivate their students by publicly rewarding success, praising a job well done, and sharing exemplary work.

11. Encourage self-reflection

Most kids want to be successful, they just need to figure out what they have to do to get there. One way to motivate your students is to have them do some deep introspection and determine their own strengths and weaknesses. Students are often more motivated to create this type of self-criticism than to hear it from a teacher, as it makes them feel in charge of creating their own goals and objectives.

12. Enthusiasm

One of the best ways to see your students motivated is to share your enthusiasm. When you’re excited about teaching, they’ll be that much more excited about learning. It’s that easy.

13. Know your students

Knowing your students is much more than memorizing their names. Students need to know that the teacher genuinely cares and cares about them and their success. When students feel appreciated, it creates a safe learning environment and motivates them to work harder, as they will seek compliments and good feedback from someone they feel knows and respects them as individuals.

14. Connect with their interests

Knowing your students will bring you other benefits, such as allowing you to relate the class material to things that they are interested in or have experienced. Teachers can use that interest to make things more interesting for students, keeping them motivated for longer.

15. Help students find their intrinsic motivation

It can be great to help your students get motivated, but at the end of the day they need to be able to generate their own motivation. Helping students find their own reasons for doing classwork and working hard, whether it’s because they find the material interesting, want to go to college, or just love learning, is one of the most powerful gifts you can give them.

16. Manage your anxiety

Some students are very anxious about failing or not doing the work properly. For these students, teachers may find that they are so motivated to learn that struggling with a subject is not the end of the world. Offer them support no matter what the end result is, and make sure students don’t feel too overwhelmed by expectations.

17. Set high but achievable goals

If you’re not pushing your students to do more than the bare minimum, most won’t go for it on their own. Students like to be challenged and will work towards high expectations as long as they believe those goals are within their reach, so don’t be afraid to push them to get more out of them.

18. Provide feedback and offer opportunities to improve

Students who struggle with class work can become frustrated and lose motivation. In this situation, it is critical that teachers help students learn exactly where they went wrong and how they can do better next time. Finding a method to get where students want to be can help keep them motivated to work hard.

19. Track progress

It can be difficult for your students to realize how far they have come, especially with subjects that are difficult for them. Tracking can be useful in the classroom, not only for teachers but also for students. Teachers can use this as a way to motivate students, allowing them to visually see how much they have learned and improved throughout the year.

20. Make things fun

Not all class work needs to be a game or fun time, but students who see school as a place where they can have fun will be more motivated to pay attention and do the work that is required of them than those who see school as a place where they can have fun. as an obligation. Adding fun to activities at school can help students who struggle to stay engaged and make class a more student-friendly place.

21. Provide opportunities for success

Students, even the best, can become frustrated and demotivated when they feel like they are struggling or not getting the recognition other students do. Make sure everyone has a chance to play to their strengths and feel included and valued. This can make a big difference in your motivation.

This content has been originally published by Club Ediba at the following address:  club.ediba.com