Online Course
Nurs 787 - Theory Teaching and Learning
Module 2: Contexts of Learning and Learner Characteristics
Motivation
What is motivation? You have several definitions to consider from your reading. Which of these do you see as most relevant for working with the learners you anticipate working with in the future and why?
There are many factors that influence motivation. These may be internal to the individual, or external as a part of the environment or context of the learning experience, or involve relationships with others. Consider the following statements:
Which type of factor would be likely to influence the individual's motivational level in each of these situations - Environmental? Personal? Relational? It’s important to remember that learners have individual motivations, (and teachers do, too)! Determining what motivates a learner can help teachers choose the right teaching strategies, timing, and “dose” of education.
As you learned from your readings, motivation is an abstract concept that is not easily measured. Here is an exercise for you to characterize your own general motivation style.
The factors found in Table 6-1 (Bastable, 2014) might be important for you to consider as you work with your learner group. Consider these carefully as you get to know your learners. One of the greatest challenges in teaching is that time constraints make it difficult to match learner readiness with the timing of learning experiences that are pre-scheduled or pre-determined.