MOOC-Ed: Learning Differences: Student Motivation

Consider whether one of the following activities might work well for your colleagues during a regularly scheduled staff/department/PLC meeting.


Provide folks with learning materials and/or references about “Extrinsic & Intrinsic”  motivation in students (e.g. Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic. The Challenge of Motivation | Ecology of Education Blog.
Invite folks in small groups to ...

• Brainstorm working definitions of “Extrinsic & Intrinsic”  motivation;
  
• Discuss their students tendency toward “extrinsic” or “intrinsic” motivation … What do they see their students doing or saying?     
  

Recruit 4-6 folks to facilitate rotating “table talks” aligned and focused on specific content areas (i.e. Math, SS, Science and other site-based curricula). Provide facilitators with content specific motivation strategies gleaned from the MOOC-Ed and “group-think” some “Try It Tommorow” applications for upcoming lessons or units.

During whole staff, PLN/PLC and/or department meeting that is seeded with folks who have completed the Learning Differences MOOC-ED, ask each participant to record one to three ways they currently motivate students (overall or in specific content areas). When done, have everyone continuously pass their cards to the left (use a timer or music ). When time is up or the music stops, on the current card each person has in their hands, they add at least two more ideas or feedback. Repeat as appropriate. All cards go back to original owners, refreshed with new ideas and feedback.

Source: The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation  - North Carolina State University