Motivation for Learning- What Makes a Project Engaging?
Owning Your Learning
In general, student motivation depends upon a balancing act in terms of course and project design.Students need to exercise control over as many aspects of a given project or learning experience as possible, to encourage ownership, a sense of self-efficacy and creative expression. At the same time, there need to be sufficient constraints over the learning experience that students are able to know where to begin, as well as to learn the necessary skills to be successful both in the immediate project and future projects. A good project utilizes a common set of skills, while enabling each individual work product to be unique.
Examples:
Lesson Structure
Motivation for Learning-Solving Issues that Matter
".... Educational theorists tell us that people learn best when they are trying to answer a question, solve a problem, or meet a challenge that matters to them. You engage in intrinsically motivated learning when you research medical treatments for your sick child, learn about plumbing techniques to renovate your bathroom, or study Italian history in preparation for your trip to Rome. In those cases, you are learning because you see your subject matter as relevant to your life or your future..."
Building Social Capital- Who do you know? Who has your back?
"....when teachers talk to and substantively engage their peers regarding the complex task of instructing students -- what works and what doesn’t -- student achievement rises significantly. Building social capital in schools is not easy or costless. "
Students should earn social capital through successful work.
In general, student motivation depends upon a balancing act in terms of course and project design.Students need to exercise control over as many aspects of a given project or learning experience as possible, to encourage ownership, a sense of self-efficacy and creative expression. At the same time, there need to be sufficient constraints over the learning experience that students are able to know where to begin, as well as to learn the necessary skills to be successful both in the immediate project and future projects. A good project utilizes a common set of skills, while enabling each individual work product to be unique.
Examples:
- Doing a self-portrait using grid shading( vs copying a sample picture)
- Building a mitered box, with student determining measurements and finishes ( vs building a box per plan)
- Designing and 3D-printing a toy chosen by the student (vs printing a standard design)
Lesson Structure
- Students must be active at all times. Passive listening to a teacher does not count as an activity.
- While there is a place for short lectures, videos, or readings, these need to be accompanied by note-taking, followed by active sharing with a partner( think-pair-share) of what was learned.
- Where possible, a lesson should include:
- Initial 'messing about' with materials ( see also David Hawkin's article)
- Short formal instruction (live, video, or text)
- Design challenge utilizing instruction, with multiple possible outcomes or designs
- Written(or video) reflection on what worked/didn't work- See for example Scott Swalley's reflection on Apocalypto (High Tech High)
Motivation for Learning-Solving Issues that Matter
".... Educational theorists tell us that people learn best when they are trying to answer a question, solve a problem, or meet a challenge that matters to them. You engage in intrinsically motivated learning when you research medical treatments for your sick child, learn about plumbing techniques to renovate your bathroom, or study Italian history in preparation for your trip to Rome. In those cases, you are learning because you see your subject matter as relevant to your life or your future..."
Building Social Capital- Who do you know? Who has your back?
"....when teachers talk to and substantively engage their peers regarding the complex task of instructing students -- what works and what doesn’t -- student achievement rises significantly. Building social capital in schools is not easy or costless. "
Students should earn social capital through successful work.