Teacher For Learning

Teacher for Learning

Scenario Overview How Learning Works Prior Knowledge Organize Knowledge · Motivation Mastery Feedback and Practice Climate Metacognition Module Checklist

Motivation

What drives you to do something? What drives learners? Often, we expect our learners to share our enthusiasm for a topic and they just do not seem to muster or exude the same level of excitement. Sometimes they do not even show up.

Running Car

Motivation is a complex topic that has been studied in many contexts and has many variables. However, there are a few things you can do to make stronger connections for students to motivate them to learn.

Motivation can determine, direct, and sustain what students do to learn. Consider the acronym WIIFM (what’s in it for me?). You can use WIIFM as a helpful lens to consider your students. After you have ascertained their prior knowledge, you are better able to frame new learning in the context of their experiences and past learning.

Always consider why your learners would be interested in learning something. What is the relevance for them? How will it connect to future activities in this class or beyond? This may mean shifting your understanding of why students are enrolled in your course. They might not be there to learn for learning’s sake, but to further their employability trajectory. You should not pander, but it is important to be mindful of the different motivations for learning and attempt to find creative ways to make learning meaningful for every student.

Extend Activity

Brainstorm a list of WIIFM from a student perspective. If you cannot think of more than “because you should know it,” then you need to talk to your students and get a better sense of where they are in their learning and where they are going. If you know your students well but you still have a hard time determining the relevance of a topic, perhaps you should consider removing this content from your course. Sometimes, what excites you, might not be what excites them.

Please upload or link your WIIFM list as a response to the WIIFM activity.

As evidence of completion, please plan to enter the web address for your response in the Teacher for Learning badge submission form.