Just the other day, I had a student come into my office in tears frustrated after she failed another Chemistry test this semester. I asked the typical questions trying to expose how and what she studied to determine if she needed a tutor and to conclude what test taking tips and strategies I might be able to teach her. At one point she states, “I hate Professor X and I hate Chemistry…it shouldn’t be this hard.” I asked her why she thought college courses should not be that rigorous and she did not really have an answer, so then I questioned her about her motivation for taking Chemistry, beyond it is a required course for her major. “I don’t have any motivation…I just have to take the course.” I inquired whether she wants to learn something. She said, “of course.” I told her that she had to find her own motivation for learning and that it was not going to come from her instructor or even an F grade on a test. She had to determine what her motivation was in learning. We continued to discuss learning goals and blooms taxonomy and she left with a list of personal learning objectives, ways to motivate herself in obtaining those objectives, and a plan of study to tackle the next test.
One of the most important life skills that a student can develop is motivation. Motivation in psychology is literally the desire to do things – to be able to start, direct, and maintain an activity. Sometimes this process needs to be accomplished even when one does not have a strong preference for that activity. Motivation originates in two forms: Intrinsic or Extrinsic. A person driven by an interest in the activity and not relying on outside rewards has intrinsic motivation. While a person driven by external factors to attain an outcome, possesses extrinsic motivation. The reality is that humans utilize both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to plan and execute activities in their daily lives. These two forms of motivation could be seen more on a continuum than as two specific types. However, since most of us do not have extrinsic rewards waiting for us as we accomplish daily activities, we discover ways to internally motivate ourselves more and more. Developing this intrinsic motivation is an extremely valuable tool for students. Educational psychology has long recognized that students who learn to motivate themselves are far more successful than those who rely on extrinsic rewards.
So how can a student develop intrinsic motivation? To develop strong self-motivation, four factors are necessitated by a student:
First, a student must have both a high level of self-esteem and self-efficacy. Self-esteem refers to your self-regard or overall evaluation of one’s own worth. While self-efficacy is the belief you have in your own ability to follow through with and reach a goal. Both of these can be developed. They are not human characteristics that are set in stone. In a future blog post, I will address developing these skills.Second, a student must develop a positive outlook. Positive thinking helps you to envision an affirmative future that involves you obtaining your goals. When you expect positive results, you will often make active choices and be less likely to leave things to chance. As a student, you become a more active participant in your learning and achieving your academic goals.Third, a student must learn to establish effective goals and stay focused on those goals to develop their motivation. Goal setting is another learned skill that students can get better at with more practice. You learn to identify what you want to get out of an activity and learn how to identify the action steps to achieve that outcome. Remember the SMART acronym for establishing your academic goals: S= specific, M= measurable, A=achievable, R=relevant, and T= time-based.Fourth, a student must learn to construct an environment that is conducive to motivation. This means you need to surround yourself with positive people who are going to assist you in achieving your goals. You need to identify your resources that can help you maintain your motivation. This environment is not the only motivating factor, but it is something that can provide you with the extra support you may need to stay motivated.
Developing motivation is not easy, but it is attainable through using effective strategies and through practice. I challenge all students to cultivate their motivation skills. It is one of those transferrable skills that will help you not just in your academics but in the “real world” someday.
Sources:
Pintrich, Paul. “A Conceptual Framework For Assessing Motivation And Self-Regulated Learning In College Students.” Educational Psychology Review 16.4 (2004): 385-407.Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
Lizzio, Alf, and Keithia Wilson. “First-Year Students’ Perceptions Of Capability.” Studies In Higher Education 29.1 (2004): 109-128. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
BARTHOLOMEW, BARBARA. “Why We Can’t Always Get What We Want.” Phi Delta Kappan 88.8 (2007): 593-598. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
Crone, Ian, and Kathy MacKay. “Motivating Today’s College Students.” AAC& U: peerReview, Winter 2007: 18-21. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. https://www.aacu.org/peerreview/pr-wi07/documents/PRWI07_Crone.pdf
