Motivation

Everything you have learned in this course about development, how learning takes place, and the influences of culture and community on learning can provide important insights about a child’s motivation to learn.

For the purposes of this Discussion, imagine that you are a teacher. As you review the Learning Resources in preparation for this Discussion, think of the diversity of children with whom you are working, the various factors that influence a child’s motivation to learn, and the ways teachers might enhance motivation in children with diverse needs. With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 3:

Post your response to the following questions:

• How can you foster children’s intrinsic motivation? How and to what extent should you provide extrinsic motivation for the children with whom you work?
• How might you go about working with an unmotivated child?
• How might the different approaches to motivation (behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, sociocultural) guide your strategies and interactions?
• How can you promote positive beliefs and self-schemas?